Axiom-4 set to undock July 14; Shubhanshu Shukla to return; Isro marks private space milestone

NEW DELHI: The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station on July 14 at 4:30pm IST, the ministry of science and technology confirmed on Sunday.

The mission marks the return of Isro-trained astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla , who became the first Indian to reach the ISS on a private spaceflight . His splashdown back on Earth is expected on July 15 at around 3:00pm IST.

Union minister of state for science & technology and space, Jitendra Singh , shared the update on X, stating: “Update: Axiom 4 International Space Station ISS Mission: As of now, undocking has been scheduled for tomorrow, 14th July at 4:30 PM IST. Arrival back to Earth… Splashdown scheduled for 15th July at 3:00 PM IST. These timings have a margin window of approximately 1 hour. Further updates, if any, shall be shared accordingly.”

Update: #Axiom4 International Space Station #ISS Mission:

As of now, undocking has been scheduled for tomorrow, 14th July at 4:30 PM IST.

Arrival back to earth…. splash down scheduled for 15th July at 3:00 PM IST.

These timings have a margin window of approximately 1 hour.…

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) July 13, 2025

Shubhanshu Shukla launched aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, powered by a Falcon 9 rocket from Nasa's Kennedy Space Center. Trained by Isro, Shukla is part of a four-member Ax-4 crew alongside veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, ESA’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wiśniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu.

During their stay aboard the ISS, the Ax-4 crew conducted over 60 advanced experiments spanning fields such as biology, artificial intelligence, and materials science.