Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is scheduled to undock at approximately 4:35 PM IST on Monday, July 14, 2025—concluding his historic 18-day mission with the Axiom‑4 crew He will journey back to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule “Grace,” with a splashdown planned in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast around 3:00 PM IST on Tuesday, July 15
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Pioneering Space Experiments: Shubhanshu Shukla Advances Agriculture, Health, and Sustainability on ISS
Latest findings from the Axiom‑4 mission highlight the scientific contributions of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and his crew aboard the ISS, many led by ISRO. Their work included the Sprouts Project, exploring how moong and methi seeds germinate in microgravity, and growing sprouts across generations on Earth to assess changes in genetics, microbes, and nutrition—vital for space farming. They also studied edible microalgae as potential sources of food, oxygen, and biofuel for extended missions. In the Suite Ride medical study, Shukla tested continuous glucose monitors and insulin pens in microgravity to support future inclusion of diabetics in missions. Their efforts spanned bone and radiation studies, stem cell research, and astronaut-machine interface tests—contributing to India’s Gaganyaan programme and broader space health research.
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Orbital Farewell & Visionary Dialogue: Shukla’s ISS Conversation with PM Modi and ISRO Chief Stresses Gaganyaan’s Future
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla engaged in a video conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi from aboard the ISS, sharing his awe at seeing Earth without borders and emphasizing planetary unity, and later spoke by phone with ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan on July 6 to update him on the Ax‑4 mission’s scientific experiments and discuss its role in advancing India’s Gaganyaan program During the farewell ceremony on July 13, broadcast live from the Destiny lab, Shukla expressed heartfelt thanks to ISRO, his international crewmates, and the people of India. He highlighted the spirit of global scientific collaboration and extended a message of inspiration: “This mission is not just a personal milestone, but a proof of what humanity can achieve together. I hope our work inspires young minds in India and across the world to dream beyond boundaries.
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