Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, India's pioneer in space, embarks on the voyage back to the planet Earth.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history on July 14, 2025, as he became the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla's 18-day mission aboard the ISS was a significant milestone in India's space program and a precursor to the planned Gaganyaan crewed mission scheduled for 2027.
During his time on the ISS, Shukla and his international crew completed over 60 scientific experiments, including seven India-specific microgravity experiments developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). These experiments aim to advance India’s space research capabilities and pave the way for self-reliant crewed missions under Gaganyaan.
Shukla's mission was part of the Axiom-4 commercial mission, collaborating with astronauts from the United States, Europe, and Hungary. The mission also marked a first for Hungary and Poland, as it included astronauts from these countries for the first time on an ISS commercial mission.
The mission covered approximately 1.3 crore km (approximately 33 lunar distances) and included over 310 orbits of Earth. The Crew Dragon "Grace," which carried Shukla, undocked from the ISS and is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off California on July 15. The expected splashdown is around 3 p.m. IST.
After splashdown, Shukla and his crew will undergo a 7-day rehabilitation period to readjust to gravity. Rakesh Sharma, India's first astronaut in space, is acknowledged by Shukhanshu Shukla as a predecessor, having reached space aboard a Soviet mission in 1984. However, Sharma did not visit the ISS.
Shukla's mission sets the stage for self-reliant crewed missions under Gaganyaan and is a significant step forward for India’s space program. It represents a critical milestone in India’s growing space program, with the Axiom-4 mission marking several firsts, including India's first ISS visit via a commercial flight, the first government-sponsored human spaceflight in over four decades, and the first such mission for Poland and Hungary.
[1] NASA, "Axiom-4 Crew," accessed July 14, 2025,
- Shukla's historic space mission, as the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station, was part of the Axiom-4 commercial mission, which also included astronauts from the United States, Europe, Hungary, and for the first time, Poland.
- The scientific experiments conducted on the ISS during Shukla's mission, which included seven India-specific microgravity experiments developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), aim to advance India’s space research capabilities and pave the way for self-reliant crewed missions under Gaganyaan.
- Upon return from the ISS, Shukla and his crew will undergo a 7-day rehabilitation period to readjust to gravity, a practice similar to what Rakesh Sharma, India's first astronaut in space, experienced after his mission aboard a Soviet mission in 1984.
