After spending nearly two weeks aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla along with 3 other crew members of NASA’s Axiom-4 Mission are preparing to return to Earth. After receiving a gala farewell in space, the crew’s journey back home is set to begin on Monday. Their spacecraft, the SpaceX Dragon, will finally be undocking from the ISS on July 14.
When will Shubhanshu Shukla undock?
The Dragon spacecraft is docked to the ISS‘s Harmony module and is expected to detach/undock at 7:05 am EDT (4:35 pm IST) on Monday. The return trip will end with a splashdown in the ocean off the coast of California, USA. The landing is planned for 5:30 am EDT (3:00 pm IST) on Tuesday, July 15.
It is important to note that these timings are subject to change depending on the weather conditions. Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh confirmed the schedule on Sunday and said that updates will be shared if any changes occur.
Shubhanshu Shukla’s Timing of Return: Splashdown Details
According to the current plan:
Undocking from the ISS: Monday, July 14 at 7:05 am EDT (4:35 pm IST)
Splashdown on Earth: Tuesday, July 15 at 5:30 am EDT (3:00 pm IST)
These events mark the final leg of the Axiom-4 mission, which included scientific research and technology experiments during the team’s stay at the ISS.
NASA Live Coverage: Full Schedule
NASA will stream the return live on its digital platforms. Here’s the full schedule for Monday’s coverage (in Indian Standard Time):
2:00 pm IST – Coverage of hatch closing begins on NASA+
2:25 pm IST – Astronauts enter the Dragon spacecraft and the hatch is closed
4:15 pm IST – Undocking coverage begins on NASA+, Axiom Space, and SpaceX platforms
4:35 pm IST – Actual undocking of the Dragon spacecraft
NASA will end its coverage about 30 minutes after the undocking. Axiom Space will then take over the broadcast and will provide live updates of the spacecraft’s re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere and the splashdown.
The return of Shukla and his crew will mark the successful conclusion of yet another step in India’s growing presence in space missions alongside international partners.