Axiom-4 splashes down: Shubhanshu Shukla returns after 18 days on the ISS
On 15 July 2025, the Axiom-4 SpaceX Dragon carrying ISRO Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California shortly after 3 PM IST.
Summary
The SpaceX Dragon 'Grace' carrying ISRO Gaganyatri Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on 15 July 2025, at approximately 15:03 IST according to ISRO; NASA gave the time as 5:31 a.m. EDT. The splashdown followed an Earth-orbiting free flight of nearly 22 hours 30 minutes after undocking from the International Space Station (ISS), ending an 18-day stay aboard the ISS. Shukla was mission pilot of the four-member crew, which included commander Peggy Whitson of the US, Poland's Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Hungary's Tibor Kapu. Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, completed seven ISRO-led microgravity experiments, and ISRO described the mission as about 12 million km and about 282 orbits. The Union Cabinet passed a resolution on 16 July welcoming the return and called it a stepping stone towards Gaganyaan and the Bharatiya Antariksha Station.
Key facts
- Splashdown
- 15 July 2025, Pacific Ocean off California; ~15:03 IST (ISRO); 5:31 a.m. EDT (NASA)
- Spacecraft
- SpaceX Dragon 'Grace'
- Free flight after undocking
- Nearly 22 h 30 min (ISRO)
- Stay aboard ISS
- 18 days; launched 25 June 2025
- Crew
- Peggy Whitson (commander, US), Shubhanshu Shukla (pilot, India), Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland), Tibor Kapu (Hungary)
- Indian experiments
- Seven ISRO-led microgravity experiments
- Scale (ISRO)
- ~12 million km, ~282 orbits
- First
- First Indian astronaut to visit the ISS
- Next for India (static)
- Gaganyaan and Bharatiya Antariksha Station
Practice MCQs 5 questions
Around what time (IST) did the Axiom-4 Dragon carrying Shubhanshu Shukla splash down on 15 July 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Shortly after 3 PM IST
ISRO: splashdown occurred on July 15, 2025 at approximately 15:03 hrs IST; NASA: 5:31 a.m. EDT (= 15:01 IST); PIB (DoS): shortly after 3 PM IST.
Where did the Axiom-4 crew capsule splash down on 15 July 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California
ISRO and NASA: the Dragon splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.
What was the name of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that brought the Axiom-4 crew back to Earth?
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Correct answer: B — Grace
PIB (DoS): Shukla returned to Earth in the SpaceX Dragon capsule 'Grace', which splashed down off the coast of San Diego.
Consider the following statements about the Axiom-4 mission: 1. Shubhanshu Shukla flew as the mission commander. 2. Shukla completed seven ISRO-led microgravity experiments aboard the ISS. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
PIB (Cabinet) and PIB (DoS): Shukla was Mission Pilot and Peggy Whitson was mission commander, so 1 is wrong; ISRO: Shukla completed a suite of seven microgravity experiments, so 2 is correct.
According to ISRO, after undocking from the ISS the Axiom-4 Dragon flew in Earth orbit for about how long before splashdown, and how many orbits did ISRO say the mission covered?
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Correct answer: D — About 22 hours 30 minutes; ~282 orbits
ISRO: after an Earth-orbiting free flight lasting nearly 22 hours and 30 minutes, the Dragon splashed down; ISRO titled the mission 'a saga of ~12 million kilometers and ~282 orbits aboard ISS'.