Family of Shubhanshu Shukla Excited as Axiom-4 Crew set to Undock Today

Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu undocked from the orbiting laboratory at 6:15am CT (4.45 pm IST), marking the successful conclusion of their onboard mission.

According to Axiom Space, the crew is en route to Earth, with the splashdown expected off the coast of California on July 15, at approximately 4:31am CT (3.01pm IST). Their return home would take 22.5 hours.

Ax-4 was a historic milestone for India, Poland, and Hungary. For the first time in over four decades, these nations launched national astronauts into Space — and for the first time ever, their astronauts lived and worked aboard the International Space Station.

This mission marked a new chapter in Space exploration for these nations, paving the way for future missions and inspiring broader participation in the global space community. As the crew returns to Earth, they’re bringing back impactful scientific data and testaments of teamwork, perseverance and a mission that united people from across the globe.

Their time in space is a reminder that when nations work side by side, we can go farther — not just in distance, but in what we’re capable of achieving together. NASA said the Dragon spacecraft is returning with more than 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from over 60 experiments conducted during the mission.