The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission concluded its separation from the International Space Station (ISS) at 4:45 pm (IST) on Monday. Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is anticipated to return to Earth on July 15 at approximately 3 pm. A one-hour window is scheduled for both separation and splashdown. India’s second astronaut, Shubhanshu Shukla, has successfully completed the Axiom-4 mission and has commenced his return journey from the ISS, a trip expected to last about 22.5 hours. During his 20-day stay, Shukla orbited the Earth over 310 times, covering roughly 1.3 crore kilometers, which is equivalent to 33 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon. The mission team experienced the unique phenomenon of sunrise and sunset more than 300 times, offering insights into the dynamics of low Earth orbit. The Dragon capsule ‘Grace’ is executing precise technical procedures to separate from the ISS and begin its journey back to Earth, involving several departure burns.
