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Russia Today
8 hours ago
- Science
- Russia Today
First Indian astronaut to visit ISS returns to Earth (VIDEO)
Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), has successfully re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and splashed down on Tuesday, SpaceX has said. Following the splashdown of the Crew Dragon Grace spacecraft in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California, boats were quickly deployed to recover the astronauts, and a ground team conducted medical checks to assess their condition. Shukla, a group captain of the Indian Air Force, was the pilot of a four-member Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew, which has begun the re-acclimatization process. The return marked the conclusion of an 18-day research mission on the ISS. The crew spent over two weeks on the ISS, carrying out more than 60 scientific experiments in areas such as agriculture, medicine, water systems, and human physiology in microgravity. After undocking from the ISS on Monday, the spacecraft took about 22.5 hours to complete its journey back to Earth. Dragon's four main parachutes have deployed 'As India's first astronaut to have visited International Space Station, he (Shukla) has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit. It marks another milestone towards our own Human Space Flight Mission – Gaganyaan,' Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X. The South Asian nation's human space flight mission is scheduled for 2027. VIDEO | Axiom-4 Accomplished: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla steps out of the Dragon capsule beaming with pride, marking a historic return to Earth after 18 groundbreaking days aboard the International Space Station (ISS)(Source: Third party)(Full video available on PTI… Shukla became the first Indian to travel to space since Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's spaceflight aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. After being chosen by the Indian Department of Space as the prime astronaut for Ax-4, Shukla underwent an extensive training program with three other astronaut designates at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center near Moscow in 2020. Ax-4 followed a similar re-entry pattern to that of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who returned in March aboard the SpaceX capsule Freedom, landing in the Atlantic Ocean.
UAE Moments
18 hours ago
- Science
- UAE Moments
First Indian Astronaut in Over 40 Yrs Returns to Earth
Indian Air Force fighter pilot, Shubhanshu Shukla, the second Indian astronaut in space and the first to dwell on the International Space Station (ISS), returned to Earth on Tuesday, July 15, after an impactful 18-day mission. He is expected to make a triumphant return to India by mid‑August following recovery and debriefing. Historic ISS Mission Shukla launched on June 27, 2025, as part of the private Axiom Mission 4 by Axiom Space, alongside veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson and European astronauts Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu. They docked at the ISS and conducted 30 experiments, focusing on microalgae, plant genes' behavior in microgravity, and space medicine research. Return and Reception The Dragon capsule undocked Monday, underwent a 22‑hour descent, and achieved a splashdown at approximately 1:30 p.m. near San Diego, off the coast of California. Shukla emerged smiling, greeted by recovery teams, and immediately underwent medical checks and rehabilitation to readjust to gravity. National Pride & Recognition India celebrated his safe return across demographics—from excited family scenes in Lucknow to heartfelt messages from Prime Minister Modi and India's President Droupadi Murmu. The mission reaffirms India's growing stature in human spaceflight, with Shukla's journey empowering over a billion dreams. A Key Milestone Before Gaganyaan Funded with India's ₹550 crore (approx. $65 million), the Ax-4 mission provided real-time insights into crew preparation, space hygiene, experimentation, and recovery processes—lessons vital for Gaganyaan-4, India's first crewed domestic launch planned for 2027. Shukla's time in microgravity, living and working aboard the ISS, sets a precedent as ISRO and Axiom validate procedures for future missions.
The National
a day ago
- Science
- The National
First Indian astronaut in space for 41 years returns to Earth after science mission on ISS
India 's first astronaut in more than four decades returned to Earth on Tuesday, after spending 18 days aboard the International Space Station carrying out science experiments. Shubhanshu Shukla, a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force, was launched to the orbiting laboratory on June 27 as part of the private Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) by Axiom Space. The crew, including veteran Nasa astronaut Peggy Whitson and European astronauts Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu, undocked from the station on Monday. The SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying them splashed down off the coast of California shortly after 1.30pm GST. Landmark mission for India Mr Shukla is the first Indian astronaut to fly to space since Rakesh Sharma's 1984 mission aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft. While India's Isro space agency continues to work on its astronaut programme, the Gaganyaan mission, Mr Shukla's flight on a commercial mission allowed the country to fast-track its human space flight experience. Anna Hazlett, founder of AzurX, a UAE-based space consultancy and investment firm, told The National in an earlier interview that such missions reflect the growing importance of public-private partnerships in space flight. 'Private space companies like Axiom Space are transforming human space flight, allowing nations without ISS partnerships to send astronauts to orbit,' she said. 'This model democratises space access, accelerates national space ambitions and fosters global collaboration. It helps create a more diverse space economy, which is what the new space sector is all about.' Mr Shukla is one of four Indian astronauts selected by Isro for the Gaganyaan programme. Science work in space He carried out experiments during this mission, including research focused on microalgae. He deployed sample bags containing different strains of the tiny organisms and recorded their development in a zero-gravity environment. Microalgae are seen as promising for future deep space missions, as they can provide oxygen and nutrient-rich food in closed environments. Another experiment involved studying how plant genes behave in microgravity. This research could help astronauts to grow more resilient crops on the Moon, Mars or in space stations. The team also worked on space medicine research, including cardiovascular monitoring and muscle performance. The crew carried out a total of 30 experiments throughout the mission. Mr Shukla spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the space station, telling him about the challenges of adapting to space, including how basic tasks can be difficult. 'Sleeping is a big challenge … I had to tie my feet down to stay in place,' he said. He also described how Earth appears from orbit, saying: 'From space, one cannot see borders. India appears truly grand, very big, much bigger than on a map.' Mr Shukla also made video calls to schoolchildren in India, sharing his journey and encouraging them to pursue careers in science and engineering. Safe return The SpaceX Dragon capsule used parachutes to slow its descent before landing in the Pacific Ocean. Live coverage of the splashdown was shown on Axiom Space's website and SpaceX's official stream. The astronauts have undergone standard medical checks before their expected return to their respective countries. Mr Shukla is expected to receive a hero's welcome in India. What's next for India? India's Gaganyaan mission aims to send astronauts to low-Earth orbit aboard a domestically-developed spacecraft. The first crewed flight is scheduled for this decade, but the programme has faced several delays. The country is increasing its investment in space, with successful recent missions such as Chandrayaan-3, the lunar lander that touched down on the Moon in 2023, and Aditya-L1, a solar observatory that launched the same year. Mr Shukla's mission aboard Ax-4 aimed to complement these efforts, enabling India to gain experience while preparing to establish its own long-term human space flight capability.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Science
- South China Morning Post
China's Tianzhou-9 cargo craft launches for Tiangong space station resupply mission
Read more about this: China said it successfully launched its Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft on July 15, 2025. The spacecraft is delivering 6.5 tonnes of supplies for the orbiting Tiangong Space Station. The Long March-7 Y10 rocket carrying the spacecraft lifted off at 5.34am from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in China's southern island province of Hainan, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The Tianzhou-9 separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit about 10 minutes after blast-off.
The Independent
a day ago
- Science
- The Independent
Private spaceflight ends with a Pacific splashdown for astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary
A private spaceflight featuring the first astronauts in more than 40 years from India, Poland and Hungary came to a close Tuesday with a Pacific splashdown. Their SpaceX capsule undocked from the I nternational Space Station on Monday and parachuted into the ocean off the Southern California coast, less than 24 hours later. The crew of four launched nearly three weeks ago on a flight chartered by the Houston company Axiom Space. Axiom's Peggy Whitson, the most experienced U.S. astronaut, served as commander. Joining her were India's Shubhanshu Shukla, Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Hungary's Tibor Kapu, whose countries paid more than $65 million apiece for the mission. The visiting astronauts conducted dozens of experiments in orbit while celebrating their heritage. The last time India, Poland and Hungary put anyone in space was during the late 1970s and 1980s, launching with the Soviets. It was Axiom's fourth mission to the orbiting outpost since 2022, part of NASA's ongoing effort to open up space to more businesses and people. The company is one of several developing their own space stations to replace the current one. NASA plans to abandon the outpost in 2030, after more than 30 years of operation. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
