Tue Jul 15 10:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:
**Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Returns to Earth After ISS Mission, Eyes August Return Home**
**San Diego, CA -** Shubhanshu Shukla, the second Indian to travel to space and the first to visit the International Space Station (ISS), safely returned to Earth on Tuesday after an 18-day mission. Shukla and three other astronauts from the Axiom-4 mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California, at approximately 3:01 PM IST.
While Shukla is back on solid ground, his return to India is still weeks away. According to Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Shukla is expected to arrive in India around August 17th after completing mandatory post-mission procedures. These procedures include readapting to Earth’s gravity, participating in debriefing sessions, and meeting with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) team.
Shukla’s mission is a significant step forward for India’s ambitions in human spaceflight, particularly the Gaganyaan mission. During his time on the ISS, Shukla conducted seven scientific experiments with implications for space research, including studying microgravity, cyanobacteria, microalgae, and stem cells. NASA has indicated this research, especially related to how the human body responds in space, and automated health monitoring, could lay the groundwork for future lunar, Martian, and long-duration space missions. Stem cell differentiation research could also offer benefits for cancer treatment.
Travelling at speeds exceeding 28,000 kilometers per hour, the Dragon spacecraft endured intense heat during its descent. The spacecraft was recovered by SpaceX’s recovery ship Shannon, where the crew underwent initial medical examinations before being transported to shore. The Axiom-4 crew will spend seven days in quarantine to readjust to Earth’s gravity.
The Axiom-4 mission, a collaboration between Axiom Space and SpaceX, launched from Florida on June 25th and arrived at the ISS on June 26th. During their time in the orbital laboratory, Shukla and his crewmates, Commander Peggy Whitson, Poland’s Mission Specialist Slawosz Wiśniewski and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu, conducted 60 experiments and 20 outreach sessions.
India invested ₹550 crore in the Axiom-4 mission. The experiences and data gained from this mission will contribute to India’s human spaceflight program, with ISRO planning to launch the Gaganyaan mission in 2027. This was Axiom Space’s fourth mission to the ISS.
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