San Diego: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean at approximately 3:01 pm (IST), completing the Axiom-4 mission and becoming India's second astronaut to return form the International Space Station (ISS).
The Dragon capsule, code-named Grace, touched water about 30 km off the coast of San Diego after a flawless de-orbit burn and parachute deployment sequence. All four crew members are reported to be in good health and were safely extracted by SpaceX recovery teams.
Here are some visuals of from the scene:
Dragon’s nose‑cone was secured for re‑entry at 2.45 pm (IST), shortly after a precisely timed 18‑minute de‑orbit burn. The capsule endured peak temperatures of 1,600 °C before its drogue and main parachutes unfurled in two stages, slowing the craft for a gentle splashdown.
Mission control confirmed Grace was “stable in the water” within seconds of touchdown. Recovery vessels are now alongside the spacecraft, ready to hoist it onto the deck for crew medical checks.
Jubilant Welcome Back Home
In Lucknow, Shukla’s family erupted in cheers, having spent the morning in prayer. His mother had recited verses of the ‘Sunderkand’ as the capsule began its descent. “Welcome back Shubhanshu! The entire nation eagerly awaits your arrival back home,” Union minister Jitendra Singh tweeted the moment splashdown was confirmed. ISRO’s Nilesh M Desai also called the mission “an unforgettable experience”.
Shukla’s 20‑day stay on the ISS included over 310 orbits, science experiments on microgravity metallurgy, and a light‑hearted viral video showing the Ax‑4 crew taking group photographs in weightlessness.
The Dragon spacecraft will now be ferried to port for detailed inspections, while the astronauts are scheduled to fly to Houston for post‑flight rehabilitation before Shukla returns to India for a ceremonial welcome.
