Kochi: India’s Shubanshu Shukla and fellow Axiom-4 Dragon spacecraft returned to earth after their spacecraft splashed down in San Diego, California, media reports said.
Shukla, Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary exited the spacecraft.
The spacecraft made a splashdown in California today at 3 pm.
The spacecraft undocked the Harmony module of International Space Station (ISS) approximately 7.05 am EDT (4.35 pm IST) on July 14.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Shukla shortly after the splashdown.
In a post on X, he said, “I join the nation in welcoming Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he returns to Earth from his historic mission to Space. As India’s first astronaut to have visited International Space Station, he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit.”
The 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer spent 18 days onboard the ISS and completed more than 310 orbits and travelled approximately 1.3 crore km.
He completed all seven microgravity experiments assigned by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), including studies on muscle regeneration, tardigrades, seed germination, algae cultivation, crop resilience, radiation effects and human physiology.
Photo: X
Shukla, team back home
