Skip to content

Astronauts, privately funded by Ax-4, return to Earth in SpaceX's capsule, marking the end of their International Space Station mission (videos available)

Astronauts from Axiom Space's recent private space expedition have landed safely on Earth following over two weeks in orbit on the International Space Station.

Astronauts, secretly funded by Private Ax-4, return to Earth in a SpaceX capsule, concluding their...
Astronauts, secretly funded by Private Ax-4, return to Earth in a SpaceX capsule, concluding their mission on the International Space Station (ISS). (Video available)

Astronauts, privately funded by Ax-4, return to Earth in SpaceX's capsule, marking the end of their International Space Station mission (videos available)

In a groundbreaking event, the SpaceX Dragon recovery vessel "Shannon" successfully retrieved the Crew Dragon capsule "Grace" off the coast of California, marking the splashdown of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission. The mission, which concluded early this morning, saw the return of India's first astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, to Earth.

Shukla, a pilot in the Indian Air Force and one of four astronauts selected for the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, expected in 2027, made history as the first Indian astronaut to enter and return from the International Space Station (ISS). The Ax-4 mission, which launched on June 26 from Launch Complex-39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, docked with the ISS the following day.

During his stay on the ISS, Shukla conducted microgravity experiments for ISRO and participated in public outreach activities. The mission, led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, also included crew members from Poland and Hungary. In total, the Ax-4 crew carried out a record number of science investigations and public outreach events, contributing from a total of 31 different countries.

The splashdown, which happened in the Pacific Ocean, was SpaceX's second West Coast crew recovery, following the Crew-9 mission in March. The Ax-4 mission concluded with the crew disembarking the Dragon capsule to acclimate to Earth's gravity.

Meanwhile, the empty docking port left behind after Ax-4's undocking will not remain vacant for long. The next mission to the ISS, Crew-11, is expected to be launched by SpaceX, marking a new crew rotation for NASA expected to last between six and eight months.

Peggy Whitson, who extended her record for cumulative days spent by an American in space to 695 during the Ax-4 mission, expressed her gratitude for the successful mission. "It's been an honour to lead this mission and to see the incredible work that our crew has done," she said. "We've broken records and made history, and I couldn't be prouder."

As Shukla and the Ax-4 crew settle back into life on Earth, the international space community looks forward to the next milestone in space exploration. The four astronauts currently aboard the ISS are set to return after more than two weeks in space, marking another significant transition in the ongoing journey of human space travel.

Science and technology were at the forefront of the recent Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, with the SpaceX Dragon recovery vessel "Shannon" successfully retrieving the Crew Dragon capsule "Grace" off the coast of California. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a pilot in the Indian Air Force and a key part of the Ax-4 crew, made history as the first Indian astronaut to enter and return from the International Space Station (ISS). This mission, led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, marked a significant advancement in environmental-science and space-and-astronomy, with a record number of science investigations and public outreach events contributing from a total of 31 different countries.

The news of the Ax-4 mission's successful completion echoed across general-news outlets worldwide, with technology playing a crucial role in the spacecraft's safe return. As the international space community anticipates the next milestone in human space travel, the empty docking port left after the Ax-4's undocking will soon be filled by the upcoming Crew-11 mission, another SpaceX-led venture.

Meanwhile, former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson expressed her gratitude for the successful mission, stating, "We've broken records and made history, and I couldn't be prouder." As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and the Ax-4 crew settle back into life on Earth, they leave behind a trail of achievements in the realms of space exploration and scientific discovery, paving the way for future missions and further advancements in the field.

Read also:

    Latest