Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to reach earth on July 15; 4 experiments completed, 3 nearing completion

Shubhanshu Shukla Likely To Reach Earth On July 15

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) in nearly four decades as part of the Axiom-4 mission, is set to return to Earth. His splashdown is scheduled for 3:00 PM IST on July 15, 2025, marking the successful completion of his historic space journey.

"Post splashdown, the Gaganyatri will undergo a rehabilitation program (about 7 days) under supervision of Flight Surgeon to adapt back to Earth's gravity," the ISRO said in an update on the Axiom-4 mission.

The Akash Ganga mission is a joint venture between Axiom Space Inc., NASA, and ISRO, marking a major milestone in India's human spaceflight efforts, paving the way for future projects like the Gaganyaan mission and the proposed Bhartiya Antariksha Station.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three crew members launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25 and docked with the ISS on June 26.

Shukla, who is part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, is working on the other three that are nearing completion, Isro has confirmed

Shukla’s completed experiments include -

• Tardigrades (Bengaluru strain) - examining their survival, revival, reproduction, and transcriptomic changes in microgravity.
• Myogenesis -  which investigates the impact of space conditions on human muscle cell development.
• Sprouting of methi and moong seeds, with a focus on in-orbit nutrition and food sustainability
• Cyanobacteria - monitoring the growth of two variants for potential applications in closed-loop life support systems. “These experiments are now being packed for their return to Earth for further analysis,” Isro said.

The three experiments that are nearing completion are: Microalgae: investigating its viability and applications in space; Crop seeds: Studying growth responses to spaceflight conditions, and Voyager Display: details of which remain undisclosed but are part of the scientific payload.

“Together, these investigations are expected to generate critical insights for upcoming programmes including Gaganyaan, the proposed Space Station, and future interplanetary missions,” Isro said.

The space agency added that the Shukla remains in good health and high spirits, with flight surgeons continuously monitoring his condition through scheduled private medical and psychological conferences.