Axiom Mission Live: Shubhanshu Shukla & Crew to splash down near San Diego at 3 PM IST today
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the Axiom-4 crew, including ISRO's astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, is set to splash down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego at 3 PM IST on Tuesday. Shukla has completed all planned microgravity experiments during the 18-day mission aboard the ISS. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the Axiom-4 mission crew, including ISRO's Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla, is scheduled to reenter Earth's atmosphere and splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego around 3 PM IST on Tuesday, the company confirmed. The capsule is expected to produce a brief sonic boom before landing in the waters.Shukla has completed all seven microgravity experiments and other planned scientific activities aboard the International Space Station (ISS), ISRO said on Monday, marking a key milestone for India's space research initiatives.The experiments covered areas including Myogenesis, the Indian strain of Tardigrades, sprouting of methi and moong seeds, Cyanobacteria, Microalgae, Crop seeds, and the Voyager Display, and were executed as scheduled, the agency said.On July 13, the Axiom-4 crew, including Shukla, bid farewell to Expedition 73 astronauts aboard the ISS ahead of their return journey. A formal farewell ceremony was held on the space station. Show more
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Being still is a challenge: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla reflects on life aboard the ISS
Shubhanshu Shukla , India's second astronaut in space and the first to reach the International Space Station , recently posted a video that captured something unexpectedly powerful: the struggle to be still. In the footage, shared on Instagram, Shukla is seen floating cross-legged inside the ISS, gently nudging himself into position in the calm silence of microgravity. He wasn't doing an experiment. He was trying to stay completely still. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Technology Digital Marketing Public Policy MBA others Management Data Analytics Finance healthcare Cybersecurity Operations Management MCA Data Science Leadership Design Thinking Project Management Product Management CXO Artificial Intelligence Healthcare Others Degree Data Science PGDM Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks MIT xPRO CERT-MIT XPRO Building AI Prod India Starts on undefined Get Details "This video was a few days into the mission when I finally had better control over my movements. What I wanted to do was to be just still - but clearly failed," Shukla wrote. Back to Earth after 18 days in orbit On 15 July, Shukla and his Axiom-4 crew returned to Earth after spending 18 days in space. The SpaceX Dragon capsule , named Grace, splashed down safely off the coast of San Diego at 2:31 am Pacific Time (3:01 pm IST). Live Events The mission marked a significant milestone for India. Shukla became the first Indian to reach the ISS and only the second Indian in space, nearly 40 years after Rakesh Sharma's historic flight in 1984. Shukla was designated pilot on the Axiom-4 mission . His role wasn't just ceremonial. Along with three international astronauts, he participated in over 60 scientific experiments from 31 countries. Of those, seven were led by ISRO. Seven experiments, one Indian astronaut ISRO confirmed that Shukla completed all assigned tasks during the mission. These included studies on muscle regeneration, algae cultivation, crop resilience, tardigrades, seed germination, the effects of radiation, and human physiology. The Indian space agency called his work a 'significant milestone' in the mission's success. Before returning home, the Axiom-4 team underwent health checks on the recovery vessel and were later flown back to land by helicopter. For the Lucknow-born Group Captain, the mission was over. But his reflection on the experience is still resonating with many. What stillness means in Space and on Earth In his Instagram caption, Shukla shared more than just a technical insight. He spoke plainly about how difficult it is to remain still in space — and how that echoes life on Earth. "From the time we reached the ISS, we were quite busy chasing the timeline and completing our tasks and experiments. It is a bit challenging initially, as you are learning to move in microgravity and also getting to know the station." "Any small disturbance can move your body in space, and it takes skill to be completely still. Kind of like our minds in this fast-moving world. Take some time to be still today. It is important to sometimes slow down to be fast. Apparently, being still is a challenge - with or without gravity," he wrote. India's growing space footprint The Axiom-4 mission was run by private company Axiom Space, based in the United States, but it highlighted India's increasing contribution to global space missions. While ISRO remains focused on national programmes, Indian participation in commercial missions like Ax-4 suggests new directions ahead. Shukla's journey may inspire a generation of scientists and pilots to look beyond the Earth — and to understand that even in space, introspection has value. What stands out isn't just the science. It's the human moment. A pilot, a soldier, floating 400 kilometres above the Earth, learning the difficulty of stillness — and urging the rest of us to try.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
'Takes Skill To Be Still': Shubhanshu Shukla Shares Throwback Video Of Him Floating In Space
Shukla took to Instagram to share a video of his days at the space station, where he was seen trying to stay absolutely still in microgravity. Days after returning from a historic mission on the International Space Station, Indian Air Force pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla shared a video of his days at the space station, where he was seen trying to stay absolutely still in microgravity. Shukla, who was among the four crew members who flew aboard SpaceX Dragon on June 25, shared a video on Instagram of their first few days of the Axiom-4 mission, where he described the challenge of remaining immobile in space. 'From the time we reached ISS we were quite busy in chasing the timeline and completing our tasks and experiments. It is a bit challenging initially as you are learning to move in microgravity and also getting to know the station," he said in the caption. Shukla said the video was from a few days into the mission, when he had managed better control over his movements in space, while sitting in a cross-legged position. 'What I wanted to do was to be just still but clearly failed. Any small disturbance can move your body in space and it takes skill to be completely still," he said. 'Kind of like our minds in this fast moving world. Take some time to be still today. It is important to sometimes slow down to be fast. Apparently being still is a challenge with or without gravity," he added. Shukla returned safely to Earth as SpaceX's Dragon capsule, Grace, on July 15, after it made the splashdown into the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of San Diego in Southern California. ISRO confirmed that the initial health assessments indicated that Shukla was in stable condition and reported no immediate health concerns. He was flown to Houston, where he also met his family members, including his wife and child. He also met fellow Gaganyaan astronaut-designate Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, who trained alongside Shukla for the Axiom Mission-4 and remained on standby, and other ISRO team members. The space agency confirmed that Shukla has begun a week-long rehabilitation programme under the supervision of Axiom Space's flight surgeon and ISRO's flight surgeon to mitigate any adverse effects of microgravity. This includes a series of medical checks, especially cardiovascular assessments, musculoskeletal tests, and psychological debriefs. Launched on June 25, the mission marked the first time an Indian entered the International Space Station and performed experiments in microgravity. Shukla also brought along with him the results of the seven experiments, which were developed by Indian research institutions under the Human Space Flight Centre's coordination. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla floats in space in new video: ‘Like our minds in…'
ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla shared a moment from his days on the International Space Station (ISS) and discussed the challenge of staying still in microgravity. In a video, he tried to capture the moment when all he wanted was to remain still, but "failed" to do so. Shubhanshu Shukla said it was a bit challenging initially as you are learning to move in microgravity and also getting to know the station. With a smiling emoji, Shukla said, "Apparently being still is a challenge with or without gravity." Shubhanshu Shukla took to Instagram to share a video wherein he could be seen floating in space. The video, he said, was shot only days after he reached the International Space Station. "This video was a few days into the mission when I finally had better control over my movements. What I wanted to do was to be just still but clearly failed," Shukla wrote in the video's caption. Shukla, who became India's first astronaut to conduct research on the ISS, likened the stillness of body in space to the stillness of mind in a "fast-moving world." "Any small disturbance can move your body in space and it takes skill to be completely still. Kind of like our minds in this fast moving world. Take some time to be still today. It is important to sometimes slow down to be fast," Shukla posted on social media on Saturday. Shukla returned to Earth on June 15 when the Dragon Grace spacecraft carrying him and three other astronauts of the Axiom-4 mission splashed down off San Diego coast in California. Shukla, or "Shux", his call sign among colleagues and nickname for friends, became the first Indian on the ISS and the second after legendary Rakesh Sharma to venture into space. Right now, he is in Houston. His wife Kamna, and their six-year-old son, Kiash, are already there. According to an official statement quoting Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Shukla and the three other astronauts of the mission will remain in quarantine until July 23 to complete medical and re-adaptation procedures. During the 20-day mission, Shukla spent 18 days on the International Space Station, conducting microgravity experiments designed by ISRO as also by NASA. The astronauts orbited the earth 320 times and travelled over 135.18 lakh kms during their stay in space.
