Axiom-4 return highlights: Shubhanshu Shukla to return to India by Aug 17, says minister

After spending 18 days at the International Space Station, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has returned to Earth with the rest of Axiom-4 crew, however, his will return to India by August 17, said Union minister Jitendra Singh. 

Shukla will return following a series of post-mission procedures, Singh said.

"There are certain SOPs to be followed... His rehabilitation, debriefing sessions and a series of discussions with Team ISRO. We might expect him in Delhi by August 17," Singh told PTI video.

President Droupadi Murmu welcomed Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla back on Earth as he returned from the ISS as part of the Axiom-4 mission. “A hea rty welcome to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he comes back on Earth after his space journey. His role in piloting of Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station has created a new milestone for India’s space exploration as well as for international collaboration in science and technology. My congratulations to everyone involved in this mission,” she wrote on X. 

Shubhanshu Shukla return live: “He has scripted history and made our family and the entire nation proud,” news agency PTI quoted Vibhanshu Shukla, brother of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla as saying. 

He added, "we did not sleep the whole night awaiting his return from the space.'

Defence minister Rajnath Singh spoke with Shukla's father and expressed happiness on his return. Singh also told his father that the entire country is proud of his son, reported news agency ANI.

Shubhanshu Shukla return live: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, expressed pride and joy after the successful splashdown of the Dragon spacecraft off the California coast.

“We felt amazing that Shubhanshu’s mission was successful and that he had a safe landing. We are very proud of him. I thank God for this,” he told news agency PTI.

Shubhanshu Shukla return live: Defence minister Rajnath Singh conratulated the ISRO astronaut on safe return to Earth. He said in a post on ‘X’: “Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s successful return from the historic Axiom-4 mission is a proud moment for every Indian.”

Singh added, “He has not just touched space, he has lifted India’s aspirations to new heights.”

Calling his achievement a proud moment for the country, he added, "His journey to the International Space Station and back is not just a personal milestone, it is a proud stride for India’s growing space ambitions. Wishing him great success in his future endeavours.”

Shubhanshu Shukla return live: Happy to be back, says Axiom-4 commander Peggy Whitson as Dragon spacecraft makes successful splash down.

Shubhanshu Shukla return live: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's family rejoices in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow as he and the entire crew return to the earth after an 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS)

Prime Minster Narendra Modi said in a post on ‘X’: “I join the nation in welcoming Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he returns to Earth from his historic mission to Space. As India’s first astronaut to have visited International Space Station, he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit. It marks another milestone towards our own Human Space Flight Mission - Gaganyaan.”

Shubhanshu Shukla return live: SpaceX has confirmed that the Dragon spacecraft carrying the Axiom-4 crew, including ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, has successfully entered Earth’s atmosphere at 3:01 PM IST over the Pacific Ocean off the California coast.

Splashdown has been successfully completed. Recovery teams are now conducting post-landing safety and medical checks, which are expected to take over 10 minutes.

Shubhanshu Shukla return live: "Splashdown of Dragon confirmed – welcome back to Earth," says SpaceX as 4 astronauts including Shubhanshu Shukla return to the Earth.

Shubhanshu Shukla return live: As Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla makes his return to Earth after completing an 18-day space mission, his family in Lucknow is hoping for a smooth splashdown and gearing up to celebrate his homecoming.

Their residence in the Triveni Nagar area has been lit up with decorative lights and adorned with posters of Shukla, affectionately called “Shux” by loved ones.

His mother, Asha Shukla, and sister, Suchi Shukla, have been receiving congratulatory calls from friends, relatives, and well-wishers throughout the day.

Speaking to PTI Videos, his father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, expressed pride and anticipation as they awaited the final leg of the mission.

"Today is a very joyous day for us. We are praying to God for his safe landing. It is a matter of great happiness that he is returning after successfully completing his mission," he said.

Shubhanshu Shukla return live:  SpaceX has confirmed that Dragon’s nosecone is now closed and secured, clearing the way for atmospheric reentry. Splashdown is expected in approximately 23 minutes as the spacecraft continues its controlled descent.

Shubhanshu Shukla return live: The Dragon spacecraft has successfully completed its de-orbit burn, initiating its return to Earth, says SpaceX.

Shubhanshu Shukla return live: The Dragon spacecraft, carrying the Ax-4 crew including Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, remains safely on-orbit as it prepares for its return journey. 

Shubhanshu Shukla return live: The crucial de-orbit burn has begun and is expected to last just under 18 minutes. During this phase, the Dragon spacecraft will temporarily lose communication with ground control for approximately seven minutes.

Shubhanshu Shukla splashdown live: Ahead of the splashdown of the Dragon spacecraft led by Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla, the ISRO astronauts parents stated they are “excited for his return”. 

“We are very excited... When we saw the undocking, we knew he was on his way now... We are waiting for our son. He will reach by evening. We prayed for his well-being. We went to the temple and took Hanumaji's Darshan. We did a Sundarkand recitation... We are proud that our son wrote his name in history... We will give him a grand welcome,” Shukla's mother, Asha Shukla told news agency ANI. 

Father Shambu Dayal Shukla also expressed happiness on his son's return and said that the splashdown would be noted down in history.

"We are very excited that our son is returning from the mission and landing on Earth. He had made us so proud. It will be noted down in history... We are waiting for his safe landing. It is a day of joy for the entire nation. I thank the entire nation for their prayers... He is our son, but he belongs to the entire nation... We prayed and remembered God..." the father told ANI.

Shubhanshu Shukla return live: ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla carried out a total of seven experiments during his 18-day mission at the International Space Station. 

As per ISRO, the experiments on the Indian strain of Tardigrades, Myogenesis, Sprouting of methi and moong seeds, Cyanobacteria, Microalgae, Crop seeds and Voyager Display, were completed by the astronaut successfully. 

Shubhanshu Shukla return live: The Axiom-4 mission, which launched on June 26, 2025, marked a significant milestone for three nations.

This space mission marked the first time India, Poland, and Hungary, sent astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a government-sponsored mission in over 40 years.

Shubhanshu Shukla return live:The  Dragon spacecraft, carrying the Ax-4 crew, will announce its arrival into Earth with a brief sonic boom prior to splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. 

A sonic boom is a loud, thunderous noise created when an object travels through the air faster than the speed of sound. The loud boom occurs when the object breaks the sound barrier due to its speed.

Shubhanshu Shukla Earth Return Live Updates: As per SpaceX, the landing for Axiom-4 mission crew is on ‘track’. The four astronauts, including Shubhanshu Shukla, are expected to splash down on Earth around 3 PM IST.