Daijiworld Media Network- California
California, Jul 15: In a moment of pride for India and a major milestone in private spaceflight, the SpaceX Dragon C-213 spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday, beginning a 22.5-hour return journey to Earth for the Ax-4 mission crew — including Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to set foot aboard the orbiting lab.
The Ax-4 mission, launched on June 25 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, marked the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS under Axiom Space. The Dragon spacecraft is now carrying four astronauts — Shukla, mission commander Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary) — back home, with a splashdown expected in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California around 3 pm IST on Tuesday, July 15.
NASA, in an official update, confirmed that the crew capsule is also ferrying over 580 pounds of scientific cargo and mission hardware, including critical data from more than 60 experiments conducted during the 18-day stay in microgravity.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla created history by becoming the first Indian to reach the International Space Station. During his time in orbit, he executed a wide array of scientific experiments that will contribute directly to India’s human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan.
“Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla successfully completed all seven planned microgravity experiments and mission activities — a significant milestone,” ISRO stated. His research focused on Indian biological samples such as tardigrades, methi and moong seed sprouting, cyanobacteria, myogenesis studies, and microalgae — all of which could have implications for long-term space travel and life-support systems.
The journey home, though short compared to the mission duration, is among the most perilous phases. Re-entry begins at an altitude of around 180 km, during which the Dragon capsule will endure atmospheric temperatures close to 2,000°C due to intense friction. SpaceX’s advanced heat shield, made from PICA-X — a proprietary carbon-based material — is engineered to shield the crew from these extreme conditions.
As the spacecraft descends, two drogue parachutes will first deploy at 5.5 km altitude to stabilise its fall, followed by four main parachutes at 6,000 feet, slowing the descent to about 24 km/h for a safe splashdown.
A SpaceX recovery ship will be positioned near the targeted splashdown zone. Once in the water, a team of specially trained technicians will approach the capsule using small boats to ensure safety and inspect for radiation, heat damage, or contamination.
After clearance, the capsule will be lifted onto the recovery vessel, where the astronauts will disembark. Medical teams will immediately conduct health evaluations to assess the crew’s condition after the intense gravitational shift.
The astronauts will then be transported to a secure NASA facility where a thorough post-mission recovery programme will be carried out — including physical fitness tests, mental wellbeing assessments, and rehabilitation for strength and motor coordination.
Shukla’s successful space sojourn is being celebrated as a proud chapter in India’s growing space legacy. His contributions to Gaganyaan are expected to enhance ISRO’s preparedness for sending Indian astronauts on indigenous missions in the coming years.
As the world watches the Ax-4 crew descend from the stars, India salutes its Gaganyatri — a symbol of scientific courage, national pride, and the endless possibilities of space exploration.