The ‘undocking’ process has begun. Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his companions have started their journey back to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS).
After spending 18 days orbiting our planet, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his fellow crew members began their return journey to Earth on Monday. The “undocking” process, which involved the separation of their spacecraft from the International Space Station, commenced slightly later than scheduled, at 4:45 PM IST. If all goes according to plan, the capsule is expected to splash down off the coast of California, USA, around 3:00 PM IST.
Shukla and his crewmates — Axiom-4 crew commander Peggy Whitson, mission specialist Slawosz Uzanski-Wiznewski, and Tibor Kapu — embarked on their mission to the ISS aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft on June 25. Their 18-day stay in space has now come to an end as they make their way back home.
A Fond Farewell and a Patriotic Message
Prior to their departure, Shubhanshu and his three fellow astronauts were given a farewell reception at the International Space Station. During this ceremony, echoing the famous words of Rakesh Sharma, Shubhanshu proudly stated, “India is still ‘Saare Jahan Se Achha’ (better than the entire world).” This sentiment reflects the pride and optimism associated with India’s growing presence in space exploration.
Re-entry and Splashdown
The return journey involves a critical re-entry sequence into Earth’s atmosphere. As the capsule descends, two parachutes will deploy. The first, a smaller drogue parachute, will deploy to reduce the capsule’s speed. Subsequently, at a specified altitude, the main parachute will open, further slowing the descent. NASA has indicated that, given favorable weather conditions, Shubhanshu’s capsule will gently splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast.
Recovery Operations
Following the ocean landing, a dedicated team from SpaceX will swiftly reach the capsule. They will retrieve the capsule and bring it aboard a recovery ship, where the astronauts will then exit one by one. This marks the successful completion of another remarkable space mission, bringing valuable experience and data back to Earth.