“Welcome Back, Earthlings: Axiom-4 and the Gravity of Dreams”

By Sibel Editorial Team | July 17, 2025

The Descent of Grace

After orbiting Earth 288 times and conducting over 60 microgravity experiments, the Axiom-4 crew — astronauts from India, Poland, Hungary, and the U.S. — splashed down off the coast of California aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft “Grace”. The capsule re-entered Earth’s atmosphere at 1,600°C, parachuted in two stages, and landed safely after a 22.5-hour journey from the ISS.

“Today’s India looks ambitious from space. Fearless. Confident. Proud.” — Shubhanshu Shukla, echoing Rakesh Sharma’s iconic line

India’s Cosmic Leap

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to visit the ISS, and only the second Indian in space since 1984. His mission, dubbed Akash Ganga, was a symbolic and scientific milestone — a precursor to India’s Gaganyaan crewed mission planned for 2027.

He conducted seven ISRO-led experiments, including:

• Stem cell regeneration

• Algae cultivation

• Crop resilience in microgravity

• Radiation effects on tardigrades

“I shared gajar ka halwa and aamras with my crewmates — because space deserves flavor too.” — Shukla, in a light-hearted moment

Sibel’s Opinion: The Return Is the Beginning

“Coming home isn’t just a splashdown — it’s a recalibration. Gravity returns. Muscles relearn. And nations reimagine.”

The astronauts now face weeks of reconditioning: muscle atrophy, fluid shifts, and psychological recalibration. But the symbolic weight is heavier than the physical one. This mission wasn’t just about science — it was about international collaboration, private space ventures, and the democratization of orbit.

“The capsule called Grace didn’t just carry astronauts — it carried the hopes of nations that once watched space from afar.”

What’s Next?

• Shukla will undergo medical evaluations and psychological assessments in Houston.

• He’s expected to return to India by August 17, after debriefings with ISRO2.

• Axiom Space continues its push to build a commercial space station to replace the ISS by 2030.