Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Jul 11: Indian-origin astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, along with three other crew members of the Axiom-4 mission, is set to make a safe return to Earth on July 14, after completing their stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA confirmed on Thursday.

The Axiom-4 mission, a part of NASA's expanding commercial space exploration programme, was launched from the Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, on June 25, and successfully docked at the ISS on June 26, following a 28-hour journey aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

Speaking at a press briefing on the upcoming Crew-11 mission, scheduled for July 31, Steve Stitch, Manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, said:

“We’re working closely with the ISS program team and monitoring Axiom-4’s progress. The current plan is to undock the mission on July 14, after the high beta period ends.”

A ‘high beta period’ is a phase in the ISS’s orbit when the angle between its orbital path and the sun exceeds 70 degrees, causing continuous exposure to sunlight. This constant solar exposure leads to thermal stress, requiring NASA to manage the station’s systems with added caution.

The return of Axiom-4 has been planned keeping these thermal dynamics in mind to ensure the crew’s safety and proper spacecraft performance during undocking and re-entry.

The presence of Shubhanshu Shukla on this mission has garnered significant attention, particularly in India, with many celebrating his role as a representative of Indian-origin talent in space exploration.

NASA also highlighted that preparations for Crew-11 are underway, and the successful completion of Axiom-4 will mark another milestone in the collaborative commercial missions to the ISS.

As space missions continue to grow more international and inclusive, Axiom-4’s journey and safe return will stand as a proud reminder of human achievement beyond borders.