“Historic Return: SpaceX Dragon Grace Departs ISS, Axiom‑4 Crew Splashing Down Tomorrow”

The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Grace, carrying the Axiom‑4 team, including India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, departed from the International Space Station late yesterday. After nearly three weeks in orbit, the mission’s hatch was secured and the alignment indicator confirmed—signifying that final preparations were complete for the spacecraft’s departure NASA+15mint+15The Times of India+15.

What’s Next?

• Undocking & departure: The capsule smoothly detached, ending an 18‑day ISS stay Northeast Live+4Reuters+4The Times of India+4.

• Return journey: Grace is now on a 22.5‑hour voyage back to Earth, expected to splash down off the California coast tomorrow afternoon, around 3 p.m. IST (early morning PT) Indiatimes+8@mathrubhumi+8Hindustan Times+8.

• Multinational crew: Along with Shukla, the crew includes mission commander Peggy Whitson (USA), ESA’s Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary) en.wikipedia.org+15Reuters+15Axiom Space+15.

• A milestone mission: This marks the fourth commercial astronaut flight arranged by Axiom Space and the 18th crewed Dragon mission overall mint+5Reuters+5Axiom Space+5.

Shukla’s Historic Jorurney

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian astronaut aboard the ISS via a private mission. Over his stay, he performed seven ISRO-conducted science experiments, including studies on microalgae, crop seedlings, tardigrades, cyanobacteria, and muscle biology. The crew also carried out over 60 research and outreach activities The Economic Times+15en.wikipedia.org+15The Times of India+15.

National Pride & Family Support

Back in Lucknow, Shukla’s family prayed for his safe return—performing a Ritual “Rudrabhishek” and reciting Sundarkand. His mother and father shared their pride and relief as the capsule detached from the ISS. The entire nation continues to follow his homebound journey with great enthusiasm