Union Minister Jitendra Singh expressed his excitement on Monday following the successful undocking of the Axiom-4 mission. He highlighted the nation’s anticipation for the return of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying the crew, is en route back to Earth after completing its mission at the International Space Station (ISS). NASA confirmed the undocking, noting that the spacecraft separated from the ISS’s Harmony module at 7:15 a.m. EDT. The mission, involving over 60 scientific studies and numerous outreach events, is targeting a splashdown off the coast of California on July 15. Group Captain Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, piloted the spacecraft. Before departure, ISS Commander Takuya Onishi praised the crew’s contributions, and Commander Peggy Whitson expressed gratitude for the experience. Group Captain Shukla also delivered a farewell speech, referencing Rakesh Sharma’s iconic words, highlighting the progress of India. The mission carried over 580 pounds of cargo back to Earth, including research data and hardware.
