Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was extracted in stable condition from the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule following splashdown off the California coast, after completing an 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station as part of the Axiom-4 mission. According to ISRO, Shukla is now undergoing a structured post-mission medical evaluation and recovery protocol overseen by Axiom Space and ISRO flight surgeons. The week-long program includes cardiovascular assessments, musculoskeletal tests, and psychological debriefs to ensure full physiological recovery and to collect data for future missions.

The recovery operation was swift, with SpaceX and Axiom recovery teams using fast boats and a hydraulic lift to bring the capsule onboard. Teams conducted leak checks before opening the hatch at 3:40 PM, after which the crew—having spent nearly three weeks in microgravity—took their first steps back in Earth’s gravity. The capsule also returned with over 580 pounds of cargo, including crucial experiment data. Shukla, the first Indian aboard the ISS, completed seven indigenously led microgravity experiments and five collaborative scientific investigations with NASA.