India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and his fellow astronauts aboard the International Space Station are set to return home, as NASA confirmed it will livestream the departure of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) on Monday, July 14.
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, currently docked at the space-facing port of the ISS’s Harmony module, will undock at approximately 7:05 am EDT (4:30 pm IST). Shukla, the first Indian to visit the ISS, will pilot the return journey. The undocking coverage will be aired on NASA+ until 30 minutes after the scheduled departure, after which the broadcast will be taken over by Axiom Space and SpaceX via their respective online platforms.
The Ax-4 crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson, a seasoned NASA astronaut; Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from the European Space Agency; and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu, participating under the HUNOR programme.
Hatch closure procedures will begin earlier that day at 4:30 am EDT (2:00 pm IST), with the astronauts entering the Dragon capsule around 4:55 am EDT (2:25 pm IST). Live coverage of the undocking manoeuvres by Axiom Space and SpaceX will commence at 6:45 am EDT (4:15 pm IST).
Once undocked, the capsule will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and is expected to splash down off the coast of California, carrying more than 580 pounds of hardware and experimental data collected over the 17-day mission.
Also read: Axiom-4 mission: Shubhanshu Shukla set to return on July 14
Shukla, during the final stages of the mission, carried out a number of scientific investigations, including centrifugation and cryopreservation of microalgae to explore their viability in sustaining human life during long-duration space missions.
The astronauts also participated in studies such as Voyager Displays, tracking eye coordination in microgravity, and Voice in Space, examining vocal changes in orbit. The Acquired Equivalence Test assessed how crew members adapt cognitively in a zero-gravity environment.
In their final research efforts, the astronauts collected samples for health studies examining gut microbiota, immune system responses, muscular stimulation, and broader microbiome profiling, essential data as agencies gear up for longer voyages beyond low-Earth orbit.
The mission was launched on June 25 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre and successfully docked at the ISS on June 26 at 4:05 pm IST.
While the astronauts prepare for re-entry, their groundbreaking research is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of human space exploration.
NASA will broadcast the undocking and departure of Axiom Mission 4 on the following platforms:
- NASA+ – Their official streaming service (website and app).
- NASA TV – Live broadcast channel available online and on select cable networks.
- NASA’s official website – www.nasa.gov/live
- Axiom Space's website – www.axiom.space/live
- SpaceX’s website – www.spacex.com
NASA’s coverage will begin with hatch closing at 4:30 AM EDT (2:00 PM IST) on Monday, July 14, and will continue until approximately 30 minutes after undocking.
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