Highlights: Axiom-4 Mission returns to Earth; Shubanshu Shukla, crew complete successful splashdown
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 "Shubhanshu Shukla")
Shubhanshu Shukla
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three other crew members of the commercial Axiom-4 mission returned to Earth as the Dragon ‘Grace’ capsule splashed down off the coast of San Diego, southern California, on Tuesday. This marked the end of a 22.5-hour journey following their 18-day stay at the International Space Station. SpaceX speed boats, the mission’s transporter, were seen heading toward the capsule to transfer it to the recovery ship Shannon, where the astronauts would be helped out of the spacecraft.
The spacecraft, carrying Shukla, commander Peggy Whitson, and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, undocked from the ISS at 4:45 pm IST on Monday.
It has been a historic trip for Shukla, who became the first Indian to travel to the ISS and only the second to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma's pathbreaking spaceflight as part of the then Soviet Russia's mission to Salyut-7 space station in 1984.
So far, Shukla has spent 18 days in space, witnessing 16 sunrises and sunsets every day as the ISS travels at a speed of 28,000 km per hour in an orbit about 400 km above the Earth.
According to ISRO, post splashdown, Shukla will undergo a rehabilitation programme (about 7 days) under the supervision of a flight surgeon to adapt back to Earth's gravity.
ISRO paid approximately Rs 550 crore for Shukla's travel to the ISS, an experience that will help the space agency in the planning and execution of its human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, set to take to orbit in 2027.
4:53 PM
Pakistan Foreign Minister Dar meets Chinese President Xi; reaffirms commitment to strengthen bilateral ties
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday reaffirmed Islamabad's commitment to deepening its "enduring friendship" with China and advancing shared regional goals during a joint meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Dar was among the foreign ministers and heads of standing bodies of the 10-member Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) whom Xi met ahead of their meeting in the Chinese city of Tianjin.
4:40 PM
Delhi HC denies bail to accused in terror case
The Delhi High Court has refused bail to an alleged operative of "The Resistance Front" terror outfit underlining his "influence" and a high possibility of tampering with the evidence. A bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar found sufficient material against accused Arsalan Feroze Ahenger, stated to be in his early 20s, saying he posted photos of terrorists and incited people to commit terrorist acts.
4:29 PM
Economy to grow at 6.5 per cent in FY26, despite global tensions: EAC-PM Chairman S Mahendra Dev
"Low inflation, soft interest rate regime to drive growth," says Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister Chairman S Mahendra Dev.
4:16 PM
Shubhanshu Shukla, Peggy Whitson emerge from Dragon spacecraft after 20-day space journey
Whitson was the first to exit the spacecraft and a smiling Shukla followed a few minutes later.
3:38 PM
Shubhanshu Shukla has inspired a billion brains through his dedication: PM Modi
"I join the nation in welcoming Shubhanshu Shukla as he returns to earth from his historic mission to space," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
3:12 PM
Axiom 4 Mission LIVE update: Shubhanshu Shukla, three Axiom-4 astronauts reach Earth
Dragon spacecraft splashes down off California.
3:08 PM
Axiom 4 Mission LIVE update: Shubhanshu Shukla, crew splash down into the Pacific Ocean
3:02 PM
Axiom 4 Mission LIVE update: Parachutes fully deployed. 2 minutes to splashdown
The spacecraft is 800m away from Earth.
2:58 PM
Axiom 4 Mission LIVE update: Dragon spacecraft enters Earth's atmosphere
2:57 PM
Axiom 4 Mission LIVE update: 5 minutes left for Shubanshu Shukla's arrival on Earth
2:48 PM
Axiom 4 Mission Live Updates: Dragon spacecraft ready for final entry
Shukla's spacecraft to go under 6-minute blackout during atmosphere entry due to plasma around it.
2:44 PM
Shubhanshu Shukla, crew to soon splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California
Rescue vessels and coast guard teams are fully prepared to receive Shukla and the crew.
2:27 PM
Pune Porsche case: 17-year-old accused to be tried as juvenile
The Juvenile Justice Board on Tuesday said the 17-year-old boy accused of driving a Porsche car in an inebriated state and mowing down two persons last year in Pune will be tried as a juvenile. The incident, which hit national headlines, took place in Kalyani Nagar area on May 19 last year, resulting in the deaths of motorcycle-borne IT professionals Anish Awadhiya and his friend Ashwini Costa.
2:06 PM
'Objectionable' cartoons on PM, RSS: Top court grants protection to cartoonist
The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted protection to cartoonist accused of sharing alleged objectionable cartoons of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS workers on social media. A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Aravind Kumar said if he shared any more offensive posts on social media, the state was free to take action against him under law.
1:44 PM
FIR lodged over 'death threats' to UP minister Rajbhar
Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar received a death threat allegedly from a Karni Sena-linked social media handle, and police have registered a case in Ballia district on the matter, a police official said on Tuesday. Rajbhar is the Panchayati Raj minister and the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president.
Topics : Narendra Modi SpaceX NASA
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First Published: Jul 15 2025 | 11:41 AM IST
