• Source:JND
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India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, along with three other astronauts from the Axiom-4 mission, has officially begun his return journey to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft 'Grace' undocked from the Harmony module of the ISS at approximately 4:35 pm IST on July 14, marking the start of a carefully choreographed descent back to Earth.

The hatch between the SpaceX capsule and the ISS was sealed ahead of undocking, with indicator lights confirming full readiness for departure. The spacecraft, which has housed the Ax-4 crew for nearly 20 days, is now en route to its targeted splashdown location off the Southern California coast in the Pacific Ocean. The return capsule is expected to splash down at around 5:30 AM EDT (3:00 PM IST) on July 15, with a one-hour timing margin, according to India’s Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh. A specialised recovery ship will retrieve the capsule and crew following splashdown.

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A Historic Mission for India

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla holds the distinction of being India’s first astronaut to visit the ISS, making this mission a landmark moment in the country’s space exploration history. As the pilot of the Dragon spacecraft, Shukla has played a key role in both the mission's operations and its return phase.

In farewell images from the ISS, eight astronauts, including representatives from India, the United States, Japan, Hungary, and Poland, are seen standing shoulder to shoulder in their flight suits, smiling and posing before the hatch was sealed.

Before departing, Shukla delivered a heartfelt farewell address from the ISS, speaking in both Hindi and English. Reflecting on India’s place in space history, he said:

“41 years ago, an Indian came to space and he told us how India looks from up above. Today’s India looks ambitious from space, today’s India looks fearless, today’s India looks confident, today’s India looks full of pride… today’s India still looks ‘saarejahan se acha’.”

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He concluded by emphasising the country’s renewed momentum in space exploration, “Our journey ahead into space exploration may be long and arduous, but it has begun.”