SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft 'Grace' successfully landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on Tuesday, marking the safe return of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) crew, including Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS).
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, along with this crew for the Axiom-4 mission (Ax-4), is set for a splashdown on earth off the coast of California in approximately 26 minutes as the nosecone of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft 'Grace' has been closed
"It is a day of joy for us. Bharat Mata's son, Shubhanshu Shukla, is returning to the Earth. He will land in California. All of us are waiting for the moment he will touch down... My greeting to the family of Shubhanshu Shukla..." Pathak told ANI.
Ahead of the splashdown of the Dragon spacecraft led by Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla, mother Asha Shukla stated that she was extremely proud of her son who's name had now been written in history.
After spending almost 20 days in space with almost 19 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission (Ax-4), Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, along with this crew for the mission, is set for a splashdownon eart
As the Dragon spacecraft of the Axiom-4 mission successfully undocked from the International Space Station (ISS), Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's parents on Monday said that they will pray for his safe landing.
He wrote in a post on X, "Welcome back Shubhanshu! The entire nation eagerly awaits your arrival back home...as you begin your return journey, after successful undocking of #Axiom4."
The hatch of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft 'Grace' was closed, and the indicator was aligned, marking the final preparations for the undocking of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) crew from the International Space Station (ISS) after almost 20 days in space.
As per a release by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the departure operations will begin with hatch closing at 4:30 am EDT or 2:00 PM IST on Monday, with the crew entering the spacecraft at 4:55 am EDT or 2:25 PM IST, followed by hatch closing.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the ISS and pilot for the mission, is part of the four-member crew that will conclude their mission aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which will undock from the space-facing port of the station's Harmony module.