
NASA to organize Ax-4 farewell ceremony ahead of Shukla's undocking from ISS
Shubhanshu Shukla
and crew will join NASA's
Expedition 73
crew for a live farewell ceremony on Sunday at 7:25 PM IST ahead of their scheduled undocking on Monday.
After 17 days aboard the
International Space Station
, the Axiom Mission 4 crew — Commander
Peggy Whitson
, Pilot Shubhanshu 'Shux' Shukla, and Mission Specialists Sławosz 'Suave' Uznański-Wiśniewski and
Tibor Kapu
are nearing the completion of their research and preparing to undock no earlier than Monday, July 14 at 4:35 PM IST.
Where to watch farewell ceremony of Shukla and crew?
Axiom Space
will provide live coverage of Shubhanshu Shukla and other
Ax-4 crew
members' farewell ceremony from ISS starting 7:25 PM IST/8:55 a.m. CT/ 3:55 p.m. CEST.
Watch the farewell ceremony live
here
.
On Monday, space agencies NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX will provide live coverage of the crew's departure from the space station via their websites.
Live Events
Also Read:
NASA to telecast Axiom Mission 4 departure on July 14; Shubhanshu Shukla set to return from ISS
With
Ax-4 mission
, Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became India's second national astronaut to go to space since 1984. This is the second commercial spaceflight mission made up of government and ESA-sponsored national astronauts. The mission includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries across the globe.
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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Entire nation eagerly awaits your arrival: Space minister to Shubham Shukla on return journey from ISS
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla with his teammates of Axiom-4 and ISS just before undocking on Monday NEW DELHI: With Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his other three spacemates of Axiom-4 mission starting their return journey to Earth after their 18-day stay at International Space Station, space minister Jitendra Singh on Monday expressed delight over the successful undocking of the Dragon capsule, saying the entire country was awaiting Shukla's arrival. In a post on X, he said, 'Welcome back Shubhanshu! The entire nation eagerly awaits your arrival back you begin your return journey, after successful undocking of #Axiom4'. Group Captain Shukla's father, Shambu Dayal Shukla, also expressed joy and said, 'We are very happy that the undocking took place safely. We expect that the landing will also take place smoothly tomorrow. We have faith in the Almighty'. He added, 'We thank the people and the Honourable Prime Minister for blessing our son'. Asha Devi, the astronaut's mother, said his entire family is overwhelmed with joy and anticipation. 'The undocking has taken place successfully, and we hope that he will land successfully too. We are praying that he lands successfully tomorrow'. Shukla is accompanied by commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Shukla is only the second Indian to fly to space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984. Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has successfully completed all seven microgravity experiments and other planned activities, achieving a significant milestone in the Axiom-4 mission, Isro said on Monday. It said that experiments on the Indian strain of tardigrades, myogenesis, sprouting of methi and moong seeds, cyanobacteria, microalgae, crop seeds and Voyager display have been completed as planned. Following a series of orbital manoeuvres after undocking, the Dragon spacecraft is expected to splash down near the coast of California on Tuesday at 3.01 pm IST. Satcom Industry Association-India director general Anil Prakash said Shukla's 18-day mission aboard the ISS isn't just a milestone; it heralds India's leap into the space-biotech frontier. 'Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's 18-day mission aboard the ISS isn't just a milestone—it heralds India's leap into the space-biotech frontier,' Anil Prakash, director general, SIA-India, said. 'As India's first astronaut on the ISS and only the second in space since 1984, he spearheaded seven Isro-backed microgravity experiments...,laying the first steps toward orbit-based, self-sustaining life-support systems. This mission, made possible through strategic private-sector engagement—via Axiom Space, SpaceX, Skyroot Aerospace and India's space-tech startups—showcases a powerful public–private partnership, transforming space research into sustainable biotech innovation. SIA India applauds this collaborative breakthrough in propelling India from space exploration to global space-driven biotech leadership,' Prakash said.
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Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Business Standard
India's space odyssey begins anew with ambitious plans for the future
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Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Shubhanshu Shukla, Ax-4 crew's 22-hr journey: When and where they land, what they bring
A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft left the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday evening, around 4.50pm IST, and is scheduled to land at sea off the coast near California, US, after a 22.5-hour journey, around 3 pm on Tuesday, July 15. Astronaut-Indian Air Force test pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla during his stay at International Space Station(Photo: Axiom Space) How the Dragon spacecraft will land Piloted by India's Shubhanshu Shukla, the Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4, undocked from the ISS after an 18-day stay, and the spacecraft — dubbed 'Grace' — will make a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean, NASA said. Helicopters will then ferry them out, much like the landing that Indian-origin US astronaut Sunita Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore made recently after a nine-month mission on the ISS. Their SpaceX capsule, named 'Freedom', splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. What it means for India: Towards Gaganyaan "Thank you very much for your support. You guys are amazing," Commander Peggy Whitson, an Axiom employee and former NASA astronaut, told flight controllers in Houston. Also aboard mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. For the non-American trio, including Shukla from India, this mission was a return to crewed spaceflight for their nations after decades of absence from the manned-flight scene. For India, the flight is a stepping stone towards its first independent crewed mission scheduled for 2027 under its Gaganyaan plan. It was a national event when Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Captain Shukla over video call on June 28. Union minister Jitendra Singh wrote on X about how excited India is. 'Welcome back Shubhanshu! The entire nation eagerly awaits your arrival back home,' he wrote. What Ax-4 crew experimented on During the mission — launched from the Kennedy Space Center on June 25 — the crew conducted around 60 scientific experiments on medicine, agriculture, and, of course, space exploration. NASA said the Dragon spacecraft will return to Earth with more than 580 pounds (around 260 kg) of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from the experiments. Captain Shukla's work centered on the skeletal and muscle degradation in space. He also carried out an experiment of growing microalgae as a sustainable source of nutrition in long-duration space travels. He showcased a zero-gravity experiment with water to illustrate how microgravity transforms everyday physics. Using surface tension to his advantage, Shukla formed a floating water bubble. "I've become a water bender here in the station," he joked. Others worked on cancer, microgreens and plant biology, and how the human body, particularly blood circulation, behaves under microgravity conditions. The crew took part in a mental health study for astronauts as well. 'Set a new standard' Ahead of the departure, at a farewell ceremony, ISS Commander Takuya Onishi addressed the crew: 'Peggy, Shux, Suave, Tibor, we really enjoyed your company and thank you so much for bringing so much joy, excitement, inspiration and other positive ways to make our experience here even better.' 'Your dedication to science and your profession definitely set a new standard for private astronaut missions,' Onishi said. Group Captain Shukla also delivered a farewell speech, quoting the iconic words of Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space, saying, "Aaj ka Bharat abhi bhi saare jahaan se acha dikhta hai" (Today's India is still more splendid than the entire world)." Which company took them there? The short mission was financed by the governments privately and was the first time in more than 40 years that India, Poland and Hungary saw a manned mission of theirs go into space. These three were accompanied by America's most experienced space flier, Peggy Whitson, who works for Axiom Space, which chartered the flight. The Houston-based company's clientele includes the wealthy as well as countries seeking representation in space. NASA is all for commercial spaceflights. It was Axiom's fourth station trip since 2022. (With inputs from PTI, ANI, AFP)