Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and his three crew members are set to disembark from the International Space Station (ISS) on July 14 at 4:30 pm IST, according to an official update on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) released by Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday.
On July 15 at 3:00 pm IST, they are scheduled to return to Earth, and a splashdown is anticipated in the recovery zone.Singh shared the development on social media, writing, “Update: Axiom 4 International Space Station ISS Mission: As of now, undocking has been scheduled for tomorrow, 14th July at 4:30 pm IST. Arrival back to Earth… Splashdown scheduled for 15th July at 3:00 pm IST. These timings have a margin window of approximately 1 hour. Further updates, if any, shall be shared accordingly.”
Originally, the crew was expected to begin their return journey on July 10, but plans were altered, extending their stay aboard the ISS by at least four days. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), the delay was due to mission scheduling adjustments and operational priorities. Axiom Mission 4 was launched on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The mission's Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS on June 26 at 4:05 pm IST, ahead of schedule, attaching to the space-facing port of the Harmony module.The four-member international crew includes Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (India), Commander Peggy Whitson (USA) — a veteran NASA astronaut, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland) representing the European Space Agency, and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), flying under Hungary's HUNOR programme. During their time aboard the ISS, the Ax-4 crew carried out a series of research activities designed to push the boundaries of scientific discovery, test innovative technologies, and promote international cooperation in space science.
Also Read: Axiom-4 mission: Shubhanshu Shukla set to return on July 14
These efforts were part of Axiom Space's broader goals for commercial space missions and global outreach. On Tuesday, the crew engaged in extensive microgravity research, with Indian astronaut Group Captain Shukla conducting three key scientific experiments. In the first, he led work on the "Sprouts Project", aimed at understanding how microgravity affects seed germination and early plant development.
Also Read: Shubhanshu Shukla grows 'methi', 'moong' seeds in space lab
Once returned to Earth, the seeds will be grown over several generations to study long-term changes in genetics, microbial ecosystems, and nutritional value, helping assess plant viability in future space missions. In another critical experiment, Shukla deployed and stowed microalgae samples, being studied for their multifunctional role in space — particularly their potential to produce food, oxygen, and biofuels. Axiom Space noted that the resilience and adaptability of microalgae make them promising candidates to support sustainable life-support systems on long-duration missions beyond Earth.
The Ax-4 mission, part of Axiom Space’s commercial partnership with NASA, marks another milestone in expanding human presence in low Earth orbit and enabling future space exploration through international collaboration and scientific advancement.
Also Read: NASA to broadcast return of Axiom Mission 4 crew on July 14
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