The first Indian astronaut to go to international space is returning

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who became the first Indian ever to break into the International Space Station (ISS) to make history On his way.

Live broadcast shows that on Monday, Orbital Laboratory’s Axiom-4 (AX-4) mission was conducted with a four-person crew on Monday. This is It is expected to splash in less than 24 hours.

Leaded by former NASA veteran Peggy Whitson and piloted by Captain Shukla, the AX-4 arrived at the ISS on June 26. Its staff include Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

The team captain Shukla is the second Indian to go to space. In 1984, astronaut Rakesh Sharma flew into the Russian universe in Russia’s Rassian soyuz, and his travels lasted for 41 years.

AX -4 – Commercial Flights operated by Houston private company Axiom Space – are a collaboration between NASA, ISRO of the Indian Space Agency, the European Space Agency (ESA) and SpaceX.

On Monday, ISS released ISS on X, saying the AX-4 crew took their own place in the spacecraft and its hatch was closed. When separated from ISS, the process is unraveled live.

Axiom Space said the spacecraft would splash out in the ocean near the California coast and then pick it up.

Indian Science Minister Jitendra Singh said the splash is scheduled to be around 15:00 on July 15 at 09:30 GMT.

India’s journey in space exploration may be tough, but it has begun, the Indian astronaut said in a farewell speech on Sunday at the International Space Station.

“It’s an incredible journey. Even though it’s over now, there’s a long way to go for you and me. Our journey to human space missions is very long and difficult. But, if we’re sure, even the stars can be achieved.”

He mentioned that India’s first person in space astronaut Rakesh Sharma quoted a famous figure from the 1924 Urdu song “Sare Jahan Se Achcha” and said that “India looks better than the rest of the world”.

“Even today, we want to know what it looks like. I will tell you. From space, India today looks ambitious. It looks fearless. It looks confident. It looks proud. So, again, I can say that India today is still better than the rest of the world,” said group captain Shukra.

The AX-4 was initially expected to stay on the ISS for two weeks and ended up staying for a few days. During his stay, Axiom Space said the crew conducted 60 scientific experiments, including seven designed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

ISRO paid Rs 5 billion (USD 59 million; £43 million) to secure a seat in Captain Shukla in AX-4 and his training, and he said his hands-on experience gained on his trip to the ISS will help India in its human space flight.

ISRO announced plans to launch Gaganyaan (the first human space flight in 2027) and has developed ambitious plans to build a space station by 2035 and send astronauts to the moon by 2040.

Captain Shukra was one of four Indian Air Force officials who traveled to Gaganyaan last year.

Captain Shukla was born on October 10, 1985 in the northern city of Lucknow and joined the Air Force as a fighter pilot in 2006.

He has flew Migs, Sukhois, Dorniers, Jaguars and Hawks and has over 2,000 hours of flight experience.

Prior to flying into space, Captain Shukla described the past year as “untransformative.”

“It has been an amazing journey so far, but the best one has not yet arrived,” he said. “When I enter space, I carry not only the equipment and equipment, but also the hope and dream of a billion heart. I ask all Indians to pray for the success of our mission.”