Shubhanshu Shukla Back on Earth After 18 Days: Axiom 4 crew safely splashes down off California coast, watch video here

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

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the Axiom Mission 4 crew splashed down safely off the coast of San Diego, California, at around 3:01 PM IST on Tuesday. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut to visit the ISS in over four decades, was among the four-member crew returning from space.

Before re-entry, SpaceX confirmed that Dragon’s deorbit burn was complete and its trunk had been jettisoned. The crew’s arrival was signaled by a brief sonic boom moments before splashdown. The full return journey from the ISS lasted about 22.5 hours.

The capsule, named Grace, undocked from the space-facing port of the ISS Harmony module on Monday at 4:45 PM IST. NASA and Axiom Space confirmed the separation in a coordinated update. The return marks the successful conclusion of the fourth private mission to the orbiting laboratory.

Watch the re-entry video here:

🚨 𝗦𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡

Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla and the Axiom-4 crew are back on Earth!! 🌏

The Crew Dragon 'Grace' capsule has successfully splashed down gently in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California! 🌊 pic.twitter.com/hF32ouLrZ3

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— ISRO Spaceflight (@ISROSpaceflight) July 15, 2025

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.