• Source:JND
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The crew of Axiom Mission4, including Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS), delivered a farewell address on Sunday evening, marking the end of their groundbreaking 18-day mission. Their return journey is scheduled to begin on July 15, with splashdown expected around 3 pm IST off the coast of California.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer, has etched his name in history as the first Indian to visit the ISS, and only the second Indian astronaut in space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard a Soviet mission in 1984. During Axiom-4, Shukla completed seven India-specific scientific experiments, contributing to research in microgravity environments and space technology.

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 Farewell Message

During the farewell ceremony aboard the ISS, Shukla reflected on his journey with deep gratitude and pride. “It has been an incredible journey. I did not imagine all this when I launched on Falcon 9 on the 25th. It has been amazing, made incredible because of the people involved,” he said.

“The team standing behind me, you guys have made it really special for us to be here on the station. It has been an incredible joy to be here and to work alongside a bunch of professionals like you.” His heartfelt words echoed a sentiment of unity, professionalism, and international cooperation.

According to Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, the undocking of the Dragon spacecraft is scheduled for 4:30 pm IST on July 14. Shukla and his fellow astronauts are expected to board the capsule by 2:25 pm IST for pre-splashdown procedures and safety checks.

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After undocking, the Dragon capsule will conduct a series of orbital maneuvers before making its descent to Earth. It will carry over 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from more than 60 experiments conducted during the mission. The Axiom-4 mission represents not just a personal milestone for Shukla but also a significant achievement for India’s growing role in global space exploration. With ISRO’s continued support and international partnerships, India’s presence in low-Earth orbit and beyond continues to expand.