Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla & 3 Other Crew Members Of Axiom-4 To Start Their Return Journey To Earth Today (VIDEO)
Florida: Indian Astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three other crew members of the Axiom-4 mission will start their return journey today, July 14. As per Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, the undocking has been scheduled for today at 4:30 PM IST. He said the crew will arrive back on Earth tomorrow at around 3 PM IST.
After landing, Group Captain Shukla, along with other crew members, will undergo a seven-day rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the Flight Surgeons, as per Akashvani. The rehabilitation programme will help the astronauts to adapt back to Earth’s gravity.
While wrapping up his 18-day stay at the International Space Station (ISS), Group Captain Shukla reprised the words used by his icon Rakesh Sharma in 1984. The Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot said India still looks 'saare jahan se accha' from space.
Grp Cpt Shukla also said that today's India looks full of ambition, fearless and confident from space, adding his own touch to describe the views of the country from the orbital lab. "Jaldi hi dharti pe mulaqat karte hai (we will meet on earth soon)," Shukla said at a formal farewell ceremony onboard the ISS on Sunday.
"It is because of all these reasons, I can say it once again that today's India still looks 'saare jahan se accha'," he said.
He also recalled the time when his icon Rakesh Sharma had travelled to space 41 years ago and described how India looked from there.
The Axiom 4 (Ax-4) crew Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu "Shux" Shukla, and Mission Specialists Slawosz "Suave" Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu embarked on the space odyssey on June 25 from Florida and docked at the ISS on June 26.
Shukla, who is set to begin his journey back to earth on Monday evening India time, also said that today's India looks full of ambition, fearless and confident from space, adding his own touch to describe the views of the country from the orbital lab.
"Jaldi hi dharti pe mulaqat karte hai (we will meet on earth soon)," Shukla said at a formal farewell ceremony onboard the ISS on Sunday.
The IAF pilot became the first Indian to visit the ISS and the second Indian astronaut after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who went to space in 1984.
The Axiom 4 (Ax-4) crew Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu "Shux" Shukla, and Mission Specialists Slawosz "Suave" Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu embarked on the space odyssey on June 25 from Florida and docked at the ISS on June 26.
The final days of the 18-day stay of the Ax-4 crew at the ISS were marked by feasts and farewells with seven other residents of the orbital laboratory.
A formal farewell ceremony on the ISS on Sunday was marked by brief remarks by the Ax-4 crew, some of whom appeared to have got emotional as they hugged the members of Expedition 73 with whom new friendships were forged during the stay.
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