Indian space scientist Shubhanshu Shukla, who is on board the International Space Station (ISS), will start his return journey from space to Earth on July 14 and will land on July 15, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed.
Shukla will return on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft with other crew members Peggy Whitson, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Tibor Kapu. The crew will leave from the space-facing port of the ISS Harmony module.
"After a sequence of orbital maneuvers following undocking, Crew Dragon spacecraft is anticipated to splashdown off the coast of California, US on 15th July 2025 at 15:00hrs (IST)," ISRO said.
In the same message, the agency assured, "Gaganyatri Shubhanshu is in good health condition and in high spirit."
The Indian Air Force's Group Captain Shukla is on a 14-day mission to the ISS. With it, he has become the first Indian astronaut to visit the orbiting laboratory, and only the second Indian to go to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's historic 1984 mission.
Shukla performed several experiments in microgravity, which were jointly developed by ISRO, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), and NASA, during his visit.
Some of the research projects included the study of muscle degeneration in space, brain-computer interfaces, and the germination of green gram and fenugreek seeds in space.
"Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla is currently leading a set of seven microgravity experiments on behalf of India's contribution to the Axiom-04 space mission. Four of these have already been completed successfully, and three are in the process of completion," ISRO disclosed.
The four completed experiments are:
A research on Indian tardigrade strain, measuring survival, revival, reproduction, and gene expression;
Myogenesis, which studied how human muscle cell development is impacted by space conditions;
The germination of methi and moong seeds with nutritional implications in space;
Experiments on the growth of two species of cyanobacteria, of significance to life support systems for long-duration missions.
ISRO laid stress on the fact that the experiments represent an important leap forward for Indian space science research, providing foundational inputs for upcoming missions like Gaganyaan, the proposed Bhartiya Antariksha Station, and other interplanetary missions.
The agency confirmed that efforts are in process to return safely on Earth completed experiment samples for thorough analysis.
"Three experiments nearing completion are microalgae study, crop seed study, and voyager display," ISRO added.
In the meantime, NASA released news about Axiom-04 crew's last days on the ISS in a blog post. Saturday will see the conclusion of scientific studies such as an electrical muscle stimulation experiment, the testing of thermal-regulating material for exercise clothing, and filming onboard life for a behavioral health study. Sunday will be spent packing, with research equipment, personal items, and other cargo being put on board Dragon to return.
Once back on Earth, Shukla and his fellow astronauts will undergo a week-long rehabilitation program overseen by flight surgeons to help them readjust to Earth’s gravity.
“ISRO’s flight surgeons are continuously monitoring and ensuring the overall health and fitness of the Gaganyatri through participation in private medical/psychological conferences,” ISRO stated.
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