NASA on Thursday announced that Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s Axiom-4 mission lis ikely to return to Earth on July 14. With the Axiom-4 mission expected to conclude in mid-July, anticipation is building at the home of Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. His parents, Shambhu Dayal Shukla and Asha Shukla, shared their emotions as they prepare to welcome their son back from space.
Addressing a news conference, manager for NASA’s Commercial Core Program, Steve Stich, informed, “It’s hard to believe the launch of Crew 11 is just around the corner; it’s about three weeks away. We’re currently targeting no other than July 31 for the launch.”
Regarding the Axiom-4 mission, he said, “We need to undock that mission. I think the current target time is 14 of July after the high beta period.”
Live: Get an overview of our SpaceX Crew-11 mission from leadership, who’ll discuss final preparations. Launch to the @Space_Station is targeted for late July/early August. https://t.co/OLFT9RK40O
— NASA (@NASA) July 10, 2025
“We are really excited, the entire family is excited. We pray to God for him to come back soon. We pray for his safe return,” his father told ANI. He described his son’s return as a “matter of pride” for the family. “We thank God for it… They will return after a date is set… Everything will be taken into consideration and then a date will be set… He is healthy and his mission is going on well,” he added.
His mother echoed the excitement, saying, “We are very excited. We are delighted that the moment when our child comes back to us is coming, and that we will get to meet him. We pray to God that he is back safe.”
Initially, the Axiom Mission 4 crew was scheduled to leave the International Space Station (ISS) on 10 July. However, the return journey has now been postponed by at least four days, the European Space Agency (ESA) noted.
Commenting on reports about her son’s scientific work aboard the ISS, Asha Shukla said, “It has come in the newspapers that the seeds he sowed have now sprouted… We are really excited for his return… We will welcome him with open arms, warmth and band-baaja.” She noted that a confirmed return date is still awaited.
Shubhanshu Shukla Leads Key Scientific Experiments in Space
According to an update shared by Axiom Space on Tuesday, the crew—comprising Commander Peggy Whitson, Group Captain Shubhanshu “Shux” Shukla, and Mission Specialists Slawosz “Suave” Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu—has been actively conducting research to support space exploration and innovation on Earth.
Group Captain Shukla carried out three experiments during the mission. One focused on studying how microgravity influences the germination and early development of plants. Upon his return, the seeds will be grown for several generations to examine genetic changes, microbial interactions, and nutritional content.
Another experiment involved deploying and stowing microalgae to evaluate their potential in producing food, oxygen, and even biofuels—key components for supporting extended human missions in space. As noted on the Axiom Space blog, the resilience and adaptability of microalgae make them promising candidates for sustaining life during long-duration space travel.
The Axiom Mission 4, operated by Axiom Space, has enabled significant international collaboration and scientific advancement. As one of the mission’s pilots, Group Captain Shukla’s participation marks a noteworthy contribution from the Indian Air Force in commercial space exploration.
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