Shubhanshu to Undergo 7-Day Rehab After Splashdown Landing with Crewmates

National News: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is expected to return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) on July 15. He and three fellow astronauts will leave the ISS on July 14. After landing on Earth, Shubhanshu will go through a 7-day rehabilitation program to help his body readjust to Earth’s gravity.

Why Rehabilitation is Needed

In space, there is very little gravity. When astronauts return to Earth, their bodies need time to adapt to normal gravity again. During this time, flight surgeons monitor their health and guide them through recovery.

Mission Overview: Axiom-4

Shubhanshu went to the ISS under Axiom Space’s Axiom-4 mission on June 26, along with:

• Slavosz Ujnanski-Wisniewski (Poland)
• Tibor Kapu (Hungary)
• Peggy Whitson (USA, Mission Commander)

During their stay, the team carried out many scientific experiments.

Return Plan: Dragon Spacecraft Details

According to NASA, the Dragon spacecraft will separate from the ISS on July 14 at 4:35 PM (IST). The astronauts will board the spacecraft at 2:25 PM (IST), wear their suits, and complete all checks before departure.

The ISS orbits Earth at 28,000 km/hour, and the spacecraft will slowly reduce speed and re-enter Earth's atmosphere. The return journey will conclude with a splashdown landing in the ocean off the coast of California. It will also carry back over 580 pounds (approx. 263 kg) of cargo, including equipment and data from 60+ experiments conducted in space.

Landing and Health Update

As per ISRO, the spacecraft will land near the California coast around 3 PM IST on July 15.
Shubhanshu will spend 7 days in rehabilitation after landing to help his body fully recover. He will return after staying 18 days in space.

ISRO confirmed, “Shubhanshu is healthy and energetic. His morale is high, and his fitness is being regularly monitored by flight surgeons.”

Live Coverage of Undocking

NASA will broadcast the undocking process live on NASA+, and the re-entry and landing will be streamed via Axiom Space (axiom.space/live) and SpaceX platforms. The live broadcast will continue for approximately 30 minutes after the spacecraft separates from the ISS.

Key Experiments by Shubhanshu

On the 17th day aboard the ISS, Shubhanshu studied how microalgae can support life in long space missions. He also contributed to

• Voyager Display Study—focusing on eye movement and coordination in zero gravity
• Voice in Space—collecting audio and biometric data
• Human health research—gathering samples to understand how space affects the human body

These studies help improve astronaut safety and mission planning for future long-term space flights.

₹550 Crore Mission and Gaganyaan Link

ISRO spent around ₹550 crore on Shubhanshu’s ISS mission. The knowledge and experience gained from this mission will play a crucial role in supporting India’s upcoming Gaganyaan Mission, which plans to send three astronauts to low Earth orbit (400 km) and ensure their safe return to Earth by 2027. Shubhanshu has also been shortlisted for the Gaganyaan crew.