NASA announced on Friday that astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three fellow crew members of the Axiom-4 mission will return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) on July 14.
“We are working with the station program, watching the Axiom-4 progress carefully. I think we need to undock that mission and the current target to undock is July 14 after the high beta period,” said Steve Stitch, Manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, during a press conference on the upcoming Crew-11 mission to the space station, scheduled for launch on July 31.
The Axiom-4 mission launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25. The crew reached the ISS aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which docked with the station on June 26 following a 28-hour journey. The planned undocking on July 14 will take place after the end of a “high beta period” — a phase in the ISS's orbit when the angle between its orbital plane and the sun exceeds 70 degrees. During these periods, the station is exposed to nearly continuous sunlight, significantly increasing thermal loads. NASA must carefully manage this heat exposure to ensure the spacecraft’s safety and performance.
In their two-week mission aboard the ISS, Shubhanshu Shukla and the Axiom-4 crew have witnessed 230 sunrises and travelled nearly 100 lakh kilometres in space. According to Axiom Space, the team has completed approximately 230 orbits around Earth, covering over six million miles (around 96.5 lakh km). The Axiom-4 crew includes Shubhanshu Shukla, veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Tibor Kapu. Onboard the ISS, they also marked their final scheduled off-duty day before resuming scientific operations.
During his stay, Shukla engaged in several public outreach activities. He interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, spoke with ISRO scientists, connected with students during a live session, and even used HAM radio to link up with ISRO centres from approximately 250 miles above the Earth.
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Axiom Space noted, “From about 250 miles above the Earth, the crew spent their downtime capturing images and video, taking in the view of our home planet below, and reconnecting with loved ones.” These rare moments of rest came amidst a demanding daily routine aboard the ISS. The Ax-4 mission is notable for conducting the most research ever undertaken during a private astronaut mission organized by Axiom Space. The team carried out more than 60 scientific investigations, spanning biomedical science, advanced materials, neuroscience, agriculture, and space technology.
These experiments aim to generate advancements with real-world impact, such as improved diabetes care, cutting-edge cancer therapies, and better tools for monitoring human health and performance. The findings could not only transform life on Earth but also shape the future of human space exploration.
“Every test tube, data point, and observation brings us one step closer to a global community living and working in low-Earth orbit and, eventually, beyond,” Axiom Space emphasised. The mission underscores the critical role of commercial astronaut flights in expanding scientific frontiers and deepening humanity’s presence in space.
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