Axiom-4 Mission: Shubhanshu Shukla’s Homecoming and Reflections on India’s Progress

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut on the ISS, is returning to Earth after the Axiom-4 mission. Undocking from the ISS is scheduled for Monday, with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday. Shukla, while on the ISS, quoted Rakesh Sharma and said, ‘Aaj Ka Bharat Saare Jahaan Se Acha Dikhta Hai,’ (Today’s India is still more splendid than the entire world), praising India’s ambition, fearlessness, confidence, and pride. The Ax-4 mission involved collaborations between ISRO, NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX. The Dragon spacecraft, carrying over 580 pounds of cargo, will return to Earth. The mission showcased international collaboration and the impactful research being conducted in space.