After extended stay, AX-4 mission crew piloted by Indian to likely return on July 14
- by United News of India
- Jul 11, 2025
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Earlier, the European Space Agency (ESA), said the crew is now expected to return
no earlier than July 14. However, this date is not yet confirmed and is subject to change
based on several conditions, though no updates from ISRO.
According to media reports, by the original timeline, the mission was expected to end by
July 10. But ESA, in a media advisory, said the return of its astronaut Stawosz Uznański-
Wiśniewski—and therefore the entire Ax-4 crew—will not take place before July 14.
The advisory also daid this date is provisional and depends on the undocking schedule
of the Dragon spacecraft and favourable landing conditions on Earth.
The ESA astronaut is expected to return to Cologne, Germany, home of the European
Astronaut Centre (EAC), only after the spacecraft's successful return.
After about two weeks aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the Axiom Mission-4
(Ax-4) crew has completed close to 230 orbits around Earth and
travelled more than 6 million miles.
Commander Peggy Whitson, Indian Pilot Shubhanshu “Shux” Shukla, and Mission Specialists
Sławosz “Suave” Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu have concluded their final off-duty day
Axiom Space said in its Flight Day #15 update., yesterday.
From about 250 miles above Earth, the crew spent their downtime capturing images and video,
taking in the view of our home planet below, and reconnecting with loved ones.
These moments offer a rare pause in an otherwise rigorous daily schedule.
With over 60 exp riments across biomedical science, advanced materials, neuroscience,
agriculture, and space technology, the Ax-4 mission includes the most research conducted
on an Axiom Space private astronaut mission to date.
These investigations could transform the future of human space exploration and life on Earth,
with potential breakthroughs in areas such as diabetes management, innovative cancer
treatments, and enhanced monitoring of human health and performance.
As the crew resume their scientific duties, they continue to demonstrate how commercial
missions contribute meaningfully to microgravity research and space exploration.
Every test tube, data point, and observation bring us one step closer to a global community
living and working in low-Earth orbit and, eventually, beyond.
The Ax-4 crew took off aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the ISS from LC-39A at
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on June 25 at 2:31 a.m. ET and after 28 hours journey
arrived and docked at the ISS the next day and were greeted by NASA’s Expedition
Crew for in the welcome ceremony.
From then on, they commenced their 14-day mission on the orbiting laboratory conducting
microgravity research, technology demonstrations, and outreach engagements.
The Ax-4 mission “realized the return” to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary,
with each nation’s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years.
While Ax-4 marks these countries' second human spaceflight mission in history, it became
the first time all three nations executed a mission on board the International Space Station.
This historic mission underscores how Axiom Space is redefining the pathway to Low Earth
Orbit and elevating national space programs globally.
The Ax-4 crew included members from US, India, Poland, and Hungary, marking each nation’s
first mission to the space station in history and second government-sponsored human spaceflight
mission in over 40 years.
Shubhanshu Shukla, who piloted the mission, became India’s second national astronaut to go
to space in 41 years after 1984 wHen Rakesh Sharma flew onboard a Russian Soyuz T-11 to
the space station Salyut 7 and became the first Indian to fly to space.
Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's space odyssey made India proud as he spent seven
days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes in space on board the Salyut 7 space station along with
two Russian astronauts.
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