Astronauts hailing from India, Poland, and Hungary en route back to Earth
After a successful two-and-a-half-week stay on the International Space Station (ISS), the first astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary are preparing for their return to Earth. The Ax-4 mission, launched on June 25, 2025, by space company Axiom Space aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, marked a significant milestone for these three countries.
The crew, led by mission commander Peggy Whitson, includes Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut in space since Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984, as well as Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, the first Polish astronaut in space since Gerhard Thiele's mission in 1978, and Tibor Kapu, the first Hungarian astronaut in space since Bertalan Farkas's mission in 1980.
During their stay on the ISS, the crew conducted around 60 experiments in microgravity, focusing on research with microalgae, lettuce seeds, and tiny mites. These experiments aim to contribute to understanding the effects of space travel on various life forms and potentially pave the way for future space agriculture.
However, specific details regarding the landing date, time, and location for the return phase of the Ax-4 mission are yet to be confirmed. Typically, SpaceX Crew Dragon missions end with a splashdown off the coast of Florida in either the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. However, for Ax-4, these details have not been officially confirmed or scheduled.
The Ax-4 mission is Axiom Space's fourth commercial mission, and the capsule, named "Grace," is expected to land in the Pacific near the California coast on Tuesday around 11:30 a.m. (CET). More updates from mission operators are expected to clarify the exact landing details after their stay and return voyage.
The launch of the Ax-4 mission on June 25 with a Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX, owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk, marked a new era in space travel for India, Poland, and Hungary. This mission serves as a testament to the ongoing collaboration between private space companies and national space agencies, opening up opportunities for more diverse crews and research in space.
As the crew begins their journey home, the world eagerly awaits their safe return and the insights they will bring back from their mission aboard the ISS. The Ax-4 mission is a significant step forward in the global exploration of space, demonstrating the potential for collaboration and progress in the field.
The crew, composed of astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary, are eager to share their findings in the realm of health-and-wellness and science, especially their experiments with microalgae, lettuce seeds, and mites, as they contribute to our understanding of space travel's effects on diverse life forms and potentially fostering future space agriculture.
The anticipated landing of the Axiom Space's "Grace" capsule, featuring the first-ever astronauts from these three countries, will mark a significant common ground in the community of space-and-astronomy, potentially paving the way for future collaborations and advancements.
