International Crew Returns to Earth After Historic Space Mission
The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew, comprising astronauts from the United States, India, Poland, and Hungary, successfully returned to Earth today, July 15, 2025, with their SpaceX Dragon capsule "Grace" making a precise splashdown off the coast of San Diego, California. The four-member crew concluded an 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), marking significant milestones for their respective nations.
A Diverse Crew and Their Historic Journey
The Ax-4 mission was commanded by NASA veteran Peggy Whitson (United States). She was joined by:
Shubhanshu Shukla (India), the mission pilot, who became the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station and only the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984.
Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland), a mission specialist, representing Poland's first government-sponsored human spaceflight to the ISS in over 40 years.
Tibor Kapu (Hungary), also a mission specialist, similarly marking Hungary's first government-sponsored flight to the ISS in over four decades.
The crew undocked from the ISS on Monday, July 14, after spending approximately 433 hours aboard the orbiting laboratory, during which they completed 288 orbits around Earth, covering nearly 7.6 million miles. Their journey home spanned roughly 22.5 hours.
Scientific Success and National Milestones
The Ax-4 mission was not only a logistical success but also a scientific triumph. The astronauts conducted over 60 research activities and 23 outreach events, with contributions from 31 countries. India's contributions included a diverse portfolio of experiments in fields like biotechnology, agriculture, and human physiology. Shubhanshu Shukla, for instance, focused on testing glucose monitors in microgravity, which could pave the way for diabetic individuals to participate in future space missions.
For India, Poland, and Hungary, this mission was particularly historic, representing their first government-sponsored human spaceflights in over 40 years to the ISS. While these nations had previous astronauts fly as part of the Soviet Union's Interkosmos program, Ax-4 marked their debut at the current orbital outpost, showcasing Axiom Space's role in expanding access to low-Earth orbit for national space programs globally.
Upon splashdown, the recovery teams from SpaceX and Axiom Space swiftly worked to retrieve the capsule and its crew, who are now expected to undergo a seven-day rehabilitation period to readjust to Earth's gravity.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
