Indian Air Force pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and his three Axiom-4 crewmates will undock from the International Space Station (ISS) at 4:30 pm IST today and commence their return journey to Earth. They are expected to splash down tomorrow around 3 pm IST.
Shukla, the first Indian to visit the ISS and only the second Indian astronaut in space after Rakesh Sharma, signed off with a stirring message echoing his hero’s iconic words from 1984.
“India still looks 'saare jahan se accha' from space,” said the Ax-4 mission pilot during a formal farewell ceremony aboard the ISS on Sunday. “Today’s India looks full of ambition, fearless and confident from space,” he added. “Jaldi hi dharti pe mulaqat karte hai (we will meet on Earth soon).”
The Ax-4 crew comprises Commander Peggy Whitson, Shukla, and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu. The four launched from Florida on 25 June and docked at the ISS on 26 June. Over their 18-day mission, the astronauts participated in various research and outreach activities while fostering new friendships with members of Expedition 73.
Also read: Axiom-4 crew to undock from ISS on July 14, land July 15
Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh confirmed the undocking schedule and noted that the astronauts will undergo a seven-day rehabilitation protocol following landing. “The programme, under the supervision of Flight Surgeons, is aimed at helping the crew readjust to Earth’s gravity,” he said.
Shukla, known by his callsign "Shux", was selected under the Indo-US space collaboration and trained extensively before embarking on the mission. He becomes a symbol of India’s growing space ambitions, coming four decades after Sharma’s flight aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 mission.
In his final address from space, Shukla paid homage to his predecessor, saying, “It is because of all these reasons, I can say it once again that today's India still looks 'saare jahan se accha'.”
The farewell ceremony was an emotional affair, with members of the Ax-4 and Expedition 73 exchanging parting messages and embraces. Their final meals included shrimp cocktails, cakes and walnuts — a nod to space tradition and camaraderie.
India’s space community has hailed the successful flight as a landmark for private-sector cooperation and manned spaceflight ambitions, especially as ISRO prepares for its own crewed Gaganyaan mission.
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