India’s space ambitions received a powerful boost as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returned safely to Earth after completing a landmark 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). At 3:01 pm IST on July 15, Shukla and his crewmates splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, concluding the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
This marks a historic milestone: Shukla is the first Indian to live and work on the ISS and only the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma. As the Dragon capsule re-entered Earth’s atmosphere at over 27,000 km/h, it produced a sonic boom over California before parachutes deployed and slowed the craft for a gentle landing.
Shukla’s crewmates included Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawosz Uznanski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). Their 22-hour return journey followed undocking from the ISS on Monday evening.
Shukla’s mission is widely seen as a critical stepping stone for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) invested nearly ₹550 crore in supporting the Ax-4 mission, using it as an opportunity to gain real-world experience in astronaut health, spacecraft operations, and microgravity research.
During his stay, Shukla conducted several science experiments in space biology, robotics, and plant growth—especially the Sprouts Project, which explores how plants grow in microgravity. His performance earned high praise from mission commander Whitson.
The mission’s success has helped India test key systems, train personnel, and prepare medical protocols. Shukla’s safe return has not only marked the end of a historic chapter but also opened the door to India’s future in human space exploration.