Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla created history by becoming the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS) and has finally come back to Earth. Under the leadership of former NASA veteran Peggy Whitson and piloted by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, AX-4 arrived at the ISS on 26th June. The team included Tibor Kapu from Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland. They all spent a total of 18 days there and conducted 60 experiments and 20 outreach sessions.
Shubhanshu is the second Indian to achieve this after the legendary Rakesh Sharma to venture into space. This trip happened after cosmonaut Rakesh flew aboard a Russian Soyuz in the year 1984.
For India, Poland, and Hungary, this mission has realized the return to human spaceflight, with astronauts from these nations travelling to space for the first time in over 40 years.
On 25th June, the Dragon Grace spacecraft lifted off from Florida and docked at the ISS on the 26th, completing a 28-hour journey.
Ax-4 is a commercial flight operated by Houston-based private firm Axiom Space, a collaboration of NASA, ISRO, the European Space Agency, and SpaceX. Astronaut Shubhanshu’s participation in this global collaborative mission is considered a major leap forward in India’s human spaceflight journey.
While aboard the ISS, Shubhanshu did microgravity experiments, focusing on muscle regeneration, algal, and microbial growth. He also took part in multiple global science experiments related to materials science, biology, and AI. He further works on cellular health, muscle degeneration, and autonomous robotics, research that could affect future space missions as well as Earth-based science.
Besides his contributions to different experiments, Commander Peggy Whitson appreciated his professionalism and adaptability on the maiden spaceflight. Overall, Shubhanshu’s participation provided ISRO with real-world experience in human spaceflight. The Indian Space Agency has invested a total of 550 crore for this spaceflight, and the knowledge gained from this mission will help India achieve the Gaganyaan project by 2027.
After coming to the Earth, the Axiom-4 crew members went through a series of medical checks on board and a shift before boarding a helicopter for a ride to the shore. All these members will spend seven days in rehabilitation as they become used to life on Earth under the gravity that was missing in orbit.
While addressing his farewell from aboard the ISS, Shubhanshu Shukla said India’s journey to space might be difficult, but it has just started. He says the journey has been amazing. Even though this mission has come to an end, there is a long path to go. The human space mission path is quite long and challenging. But with dedication and determination, even stars are attainable.
Referring to India’s first man in space, who famously stated, Sara Jahan se achcha…, he mentioned today’s India looks ambitious, fearless, and confident. India looks better than the rest of the world. The government joins the nation in celebrating the successful return of Shubhanshu after the successful completion of his historic 18-day mission.