Homecoming! Shukla, Crew Splash Back on Earth after Historic Space Mission

July 15, 2025 - Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force pilot and the second Indian to travel to space, successfully returned to Earth on July 15, 2025, after completing the historic Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). He was accompanied by three international crew members - Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawosz Uznanski-Wiśniewski (Poland) and

(Hungary). Piloting the SpaceX Dragon capsule Grace, Shukla splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 3:02 pm IST (2:31 am PT). Drogue and main parachutes were deployed before the splashdown.

As soon as the capsule landed in the water, recovery teams quickly reached it and after safety checks Grace was lifted onto a ship. The astronauts were then taken to land by helicopter where they will undergo a seven-day rehabilitation programme.

The four astronauts had undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on July 14 at 4:45 pm. The mission marked India’s first human presence on the ISS and lasted 18 days in orbit, during which the crew conducted over 60 scientific experiments from 31 countries, including several pioneering studies from India.

Shukla’s role as pilot placed him at the forefront of spacecraft operations during launch, docking, undocking and re-entry - culminating in a smooth and successful splashdown.

His participation is seen as a critical milestone in India’s space journey, especially in light of the upcoming Gaganyaan mission, and has ignited national pride and global recognition of India’s growing role in human spaceflight.