Sat Jul 12 09:05:33 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, part of the Axiom-4 mission, is scheduled to return to Earth on July 15th after an 18-day stay on the International Space Station (ISS). The Axiom-4 crew, including astronauts from the US, Poland, and Hungary, undocked from the ISS on July 14th. Shukla participated in various experiments on the ISS, including studies on muscle degradation, microalgae as a resource for deep-space missions, and the effects of spaceflight on the human body. Upon his return, he will undergo a seven-day rehabilitation program to readjust to Earth’s gravity. India’s space agency, ISRO, views Shukla’s mission as crucial for the development of its own human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, scheduled for 2027, and spent approximately Rs 550 crore on the Axiom-4 mission.

**News Article:**

**Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Returns to Earth After Pioneering ISS Mission**

**New Delhi, July 12, 2025** – Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian astronaut aboard the Axiom-4 mission, is set to splashdown off the coast of California on July 15th, concluding his 18-day stay at the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla and his fellow crew members, Commander Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu had undocked from the ISS on July 14th as scheduled.

The Axiom-4 mission saw Shukla participate in a range of scientific experiments, focusing on areas critical for future long-duration space travel. These included studying skeletal muscle degradation in microgravity, deploying microalgae samples as a potential source of food, oxygen, and biofuels for deep-space exploration, and contributing to studies on eye movement, cerebral blood flow, and the effects of radiation exposure on astronauts. He even brought a taste of home to the ISS, sharing carrot halwa and mango nectar with his crewmates.

Upon his return, Shukla will undergo a week-long rehabilitation program under the supervision of flight surgeons to readjust to Earth’s gravity.

This mission, costing ISRO approximately Rs 550 crore, is considered a vital step in preparing for India’s ambitious human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, slated for launch in 2027. ISRO officials have stated that the data and experience gained from Shukla’s journey will be invaluable in the planning and execution of Gaganyaan.

“Gaganyatri Shubhanshu is in good health and in high spirit,” ISRO said in a statement, emphasizing the agency’s continuous monitoring of the astronaut’s well-being throughout the mission.

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