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On 15 July 2025, the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew, including Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s second astronaut to venture into space, returned safely to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California, at 3:01 p.m. IST (2:31 a.m. PT).

This SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, named Grace, concluded it's 18-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS), marking a historic milestone for India, Poland, and Hungary, and reinforcing Axiom Space’s role in commercial human spaceflight.

Shukla’s participation, as the first Indian to board the ISS, was a triumph for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and a critical step toward India’s ambitious Gaganyaan programme.

Axiom Mission 4: Mission Overview and Splashdown

Launch and Journey to the ISS

Axiom Mission 4 launched on 25 June 2025 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket.

The Grace spacecraft, a new addition to SpaceX’s Dragon fleet, carried the four-person crew to low Earth orbit.

The launch faced multiple delays due to technical issues, including a liquid oxygen (LOX) leak in early June, as reported, and a separate issue with the ISS’s Zvezda module, which required a debris avoidance manoeuvre.

Despite these all challenges, this spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS in the Harmony module on 26 June 2025 at 10:31:47 UTC, initiating an 18-day mission that orbited Earth 288 times, covering approximately 7.6 million miles.

Scientific Endeavours and Outreach

During their stay, the Ax-4 crew conducted over 60 scientific experiments, representing 31 countries, including India, Poland, Hungary, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Nigeria.

These experiments varied in all aspects from human health, life sciences, material sciences, Earth observation, and space farming, with notable studies on skeletal muscle degradation, microbial adaptation, to crop resilience.

The entire crew also engaged in over 20 outreaching events, including ISS' Ham Radio sessions connecting with students worldwide, fostering global interest in space exploration.

The mission’s diverse research portfolio did underscore Axiom Space’s commitment to advancing scientific knowledge through international collaboration on the surface of the Earth as well as in the Space.

Return and Splashdown

The return journey began on 14 July 2025, when Grace undocked from the ISS’s Harmony module at 4:45 p.m. IST (11:15 UTC). The 22.5-hour trip involved multiple orbit-lowering manoeuvres, trunk jettison, and a deorbit burn lasting just under 18 minutes.

The spacecraft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and, under four main parachutes, splashed down at a velocity of 27 km/h off San Diego’s coast.

SpaceX’s recovery vessel, Shannon, retrieved the crew, who underwent initial medical checks onboard before being helicoptered to land and flown to Houston, Texas, for reunions with their teams.

Shukla was scheduled for a seven-day rehabilitation programme to readjust to Earth’s gravity, supervised by flight surgeons.

The splashdown was broadcast live on NASA TV, SpaceX’s YouTube channel, and Axiom Space’s social media, with coverage beginning at 2:00 p.m. IST.

Indian leaders celebrated the event, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing it as a “moment of pride” and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh noting that Shukla had “lifted India’s aspirations to new heights”.

Shubhanshu Shukla: India’s Trailblazing Astronaut

Background and Selection

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is born on 10 October 1985 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, is a 39-year-old Air Force i.e IAF fighter pilot with over 2,000 hours of flight experience.

A Sword of Honour recipient at the Air Force Academy, Shukla was among four IAF officers selected in 2019 for ISRO’s Gaganyaan programme, India’s first indigenous human spaceflight mission.

His selection for Axiom-4, announced in late 2024, marked with a strategic collab between ISRO, NASA, and Axiom to provide real-world experience ahead of our Gaganyaan’s 2027 launch.

Shubhanshu Shukla did undergo extensive training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, SpaceX facilities, and Axiom Space’s Houston headquarters, mastering spacecraft operations, microgravity protocols, and international crew coordination before making himself ready for this Space trip.

Role in Axiom-4

As the mission's pilot, Shubhanshu Shukla played a very critical role in operating the Grace spacecraft during launch, docking, and re-entry. His responsibilities included monitoring spacecraft systems and executing manoeuvres, showcasing his technical expertise. During the mission, Shukla conducted seven ISRO-sponsored microgravity experiments, including:

Myogenesis: Studying skeletal muscle degradation in microgravity, proposed by the Bengaluru-based Institute of Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (InStem).
Sprouting of Moong and Methi Seeds: Investigating plant growth in space to inform space farming techniques.
Microalgae and Cyanobacteria Studies: Exploring microbial adaptation for potential life-support systems.
Tardigrade Resilience: Examining the survival mechanisms of tardigrades in microgravity.
Cognitive Load Experiment: Analysing the effects of screen interaction in space.
Crop Seed Viability: Testing the resilience of crop seeds in microgravity.
Voyager Display: Demonstrating advanced display technologies for space applications.

These experiments, completed successfully in the space already, are expected to enhance India’s capabilities in life sciences and future sustainable space exploration. Shukla also did performed a zero-gravity water bubble demonstration, captivating audiences during outreach events, and interacted with Prime Minister Modi, ISRO scientists, and students via amateur radio and video links.

Impact and Personal Reflections

Shukla’s mission, costing ISRO approximately ₹550 crore, was a significant investment in India’s space ambitions. His journey, as the first Indian since Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 Soyuz, was hailed as a national milestone.

In a farewell address from the ISS, Shukla described India as “fearless and confident,” reflecting on the privilege of seeing Earth and his own country from space.

He noted, “Namaskar from space. What a ride! We’ve returned to space after 40 years, and it was an amazing ride. Right now, we are orbiting Earth at a velocity of about 7.5 km/sec”.

Shukla’s family in Lucknow expressed immense pride. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, said the splashdown would be “noted down in history,” while his mother, Asha Shukla, declared that he “belongs to the entire nation”. The city celebrated with students gathering to watch the launch, inspired by Shukla’s achievement.

Axiom Mission 4: Crew and Objectives

Crew Composition

The Ax-4 crew was a testament to international collaboration:
Commander Peggy Whitson (United States): A former NASA astronaut with over 675 days in space, Whitson is Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight. Her leadership did ensure the mission's success, drawing on her experience from Ax-2 and multiple other NASA missions.

Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India): As all details above, Shukla’s role served as pivotal in this spacecraft operations and other scientific research.

Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland): An ESA project astronaut and scientist, Uznański-Wiśniewski conducted experiments in the Columbus module, marking Poland’s return to human spaceflight after 47 years.

Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu (Hungary): A mechanical engineer from the HUNOR programme, Kapu represented landmark Hungary’s first ISS mission, contributing mainly and primarily to microgravity research and experiments.

Mission and Objectives

Ax-4’s objectives were multifaceted: Scientific Research: The crew executed over 60 experiments, including studies on muscle degradation, microbial adaptation, and space farming. Shukla’s experiments, such as sprouting moong, methi seeds, aimed to develop sustainable food production for long-duration missions in the space.

International Collaboration: The mission brought together astronauts from nations with limited spaceflight experience, fostering partnerships among ISRO, ESA, and Hungary’s HSO.

Operational Experience: For India, Ax-4 provided critical insights into crew-ground coordination, health telemetry, and psychological preparation, directly benefiting the Gaganyaan programme.

 

Public Outreach: Over 20 events, including ham radio sessions and video calls, engaged global audiences, with Shukla’s interactions inspiring Indian youth.

 

Axiom Space: History and Evolution

 

Founding and Vision

 

Founded in 2016 by Michael Suffredini (former NASA ISS programme manager) and Kam Ghaffarian, Axiom Space aims to democratise access to space through private missions and the development of Axiom Station, a commercial space station planned for 2028.

 

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Axiom leverages NASA’s infrastructure and SpaceX’s launch capabilities to conduct private astronaut missions (PAMs) to the ISS.

 

Previous Missions

 

Axiom Space has completed four PAMs, each advancing its operational expertise:Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) (April 2022): The first private mission to the ISS, commanded by Michael López-Alegría, included private astronauts from the United States, Canada, and Israel. The 17-day mission conducted over 25 experiments, proving the feasibility of commercial spaceflight.

Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) (May 2023): Led by Peggy Whitson, Ax-2 included U.S. and Saudi Arabian astronauts, focusing on biomedical research and technology demonstrations over 10 days.

Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) (January 2024): Commanded by López-Alegría, Ax-3 featured government-sponsored astronauts from Turkey, Sweden, and Italy, conducting over 30 experiments during an 18-day stay.

Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) (June–July 2025): As detailed, Ax-4 was a landmark for India, Poland, and Hungary, with a robust research programme and international crew.

 

Each mission has refined Axiom’s capabilities in crew training, mission planning, and scientific coordination, paving the way for Axiom Station.

 

Funding and Partnerships

 

Financial Model

 

Axiom Space’s funding combines private investment, government contracts, and international partnerships. While exact figures are undisclosed, the company has raised hundreds of millions from venture capital and strategic investors. Its partnerships with NASA (for ISS access) and SpaceX (for launch services) are central to its operations.

 

Ax-4 Funding

 

Each participating nation funded its astronaut’s seat:India: ISRO invested approximately ₹550 crore for Shukla’s participation, a strategic move to gain experience for Gaganyaan.

 

Poland: The Polish government allocated €65 million for Uznański-Wiśniewski’s seat, supporting ESA’s objectives.

 

Hungary: A $100 million deal signed in 2022 secured Kapu’s participation through the HUNOR programme.

 

Partnerships

 

Axiom collaborates with space agencies (ISRO, ESA, HSO), academic institutions, and private organisations like the Limitless Space Institute, which facilitated experiments from Brazil and Nigeria. These partnerships broaden access to space research and align with Axiom’s vision of inclusivity.

 

Objectives of Axiom Space Missions

 

Axiom’s missions pursue three core goals

 

Advancing Science: Experiments like Myogenesis and space farming studies address challenges in long-duration spaceflight, benefiting future lunar and Martian missions.

 

Global Access: By including astronauts from nations like India, Axiom democratises space exploration, fostering diplomatic and scientific ties.

 

Commercial Infrastructure: Each mission builds operational expertise for Axiom Station, which will serve as a hub for research, manufacturing, and tourism.

 

Key Personnel Involved

 

Michael Suffredini (CEO): His NASA experience ensures Axiom’s alignment with ISS operations.

 

Peggy Whitson (Commander): Her record-breaking space tenure and leadership were critical to Ax-4’s success.

 

Shubhanshu Shukla (Pilot): His technical expertise and scientific contributions elevated India’s profile.

 

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Mission Specialist): His work in ESA’s Columbus module advanced European research.

 

Tibor Kapu (Mission Specialist): His engineering background supported Hungary’s scientific objectives.

 

Future Plans

Axiom Space and India’s Role

Axiom Station

Axiom Space plans to launch Axiom Station’s first module in 2028, with full operations by 2030. The station will support research, manufacturing, and international missions, succeeding the ISS, set for decommissioning in 2030.

 

India’s Space Ambitions

India’s participation in Axiom-4 is a precursor to the Gaganyaan mission, which will send three astronauts to a 400-kilometre orbit for three days in 2027. An unmanned test flight is planned later in 2025.

 

ISRO also aims to launch the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2028, with full operations by 2035, and send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040. Shukla’s experience will inform crew training, life-support systems, and international collaborations with Russia, France, and Australia.