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Shubhanshu Shukla Set for return to Earth
India’s first astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is set to return to Earth on Tuesday after completing a historic 18-day mission. Shukla, who flew as part of the Axiom-4 mission, made history as the first Indian to live and work aboard the ISS, conducting vital scientific experiments and international outreach activities.
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying Shukla and his fellow crew members—Commander Peggy Whitson, ESA astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu—is scheduled to undock from the ISS on Monday. The spacecraft will begin its return journey and is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on Tuesday around 3 p.m. IST.
The crew will return with more than 60 experiments, including Shukla’s groundbreaking study on glucose monitors in microgravity.
The Return Process
The re-entry process includes precise manoeuvres, intense atmospheric re-entry, and parachute deployment before splashdown. A farewell ceremony with NASA’s Expedition 73 crew is scheduled for July 14, after weather delays extended the mission by four days.
Shukla’s mission represents a major milestone for India’s space program and sets the stage for ISRO’s ambitious Gaganyaan initiative. His contributions highlight India's expanding role in human spaceflight and scientific exploration.
Back home, Shukla’s family is eagerly awaiting his return. His mother, Asha Shukla, has been preparing a special homecoming filled with his favourite dishes. “We’re praying for his safe return,” she said. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, added, “We’ve been counting the days. Now the moment is almost here.”
This mission not only marks a personal triumph for Shukla but also ignites new aspirations across the nation, reaffirming India's place among the leaders in space exploration.
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