Shubhanshu Shukla Back on Earth After 18 Days in Space (Image: Axiom Space) After nearly three weeks in orbit, the Ax-4 crew is finally home. Riding aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, they touched down in the Pacific with precision and pride. Dragon Completes Splashdown with Sonic Boom Finale Story continues below Advertisement Shukla’s Mission Ends After Weeks of Space Research Group Captain Shukla, a test pilot from the Indian Air Force, spent nearly 20 days in space and 19 days aboard the ISS. The Ax-4 crew also included Commander Peggy Whitson, Poland’s ESA astronaut Slawosz “Suave” Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu from the HUNOR programme. During their stay, the crew conducted over 60 scientific experiments and held more than 20 public outreach events. Their research covered a wide range of disciplines, including biology, health, and material science. NASA noted that the returning Dragon carried over 580 pounds of cargo, including experiment results and hardware. Mission Launched from Kennedy Space Centre in June The Axiom-4 mission lifted off on 25 June aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Centre, Florida. The spacecraft docked with the ISS a day later, on 26 June at 4:05 PM IST, slightly ahead of schedule. Dragon’s smooth splashdown now closes a key chapter in commercial spaceflight and strengthens global collaboration in orbit. For Shukla and his team, it was more than just a mission—it was a moment that brought science, pride, and humanity together above Earth. first published: Jul 15, 2025 03:00 pm