Back On Earth, Shubhanshu Shukla Begins Week-Long Recovery In Houston, To Return To India Soon

Last Updated:July 17, 2025, 17:42 IST

ISRO confirmed that Shukla is doing well post his 18-day stay at the ISS, and no immediate health concerns were reported in the initial examination

Shukla was among the four crew members who flew aboard SpaceX Dragon on June 25, leading Axiom Space’s fourth private spaceflight in collaboration with ISRO, NASA, as well as European Space Agency (ESA). Pic/ISRO

Indian Air Force pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has begun his week-long rehabilitation programme in Houston after his successful 18-day stay at the Space Station (ISS), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on Thursday.

The latest report indicates the Gaganyaan astronaut-designate may be back in India sooner than initially anticipated. Shukla was among the four crew members who flew aboard SpaceX Dragon on June 25, leading Axiom Space’s fourth private spaceflight in collaboration with ISRO, NASA, as well as European Space Agency (ESA).

Soon after the splashdown into the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of San Diego in Southern California on Tuesday afternoon, the crew was extracted by SpaceX’s recovery teams and underwent preliminary health checks at the recovery ship. ISRO confirmed that the initial health assessments indicated that Shukla was in stable condition and reported no immediate health concerns.

Met family in Houston

The IAF pilot was then airlifted by helicopter from the recovery ship to the mainland for further medical evaluations and debriefing sessions. He was flown to Houston, where he also met his family members, including his wife and child. He also met fellow Gaganyaan astronaut-designate Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, who trained alongside Shukla for the Axiom Mission-4 and remained on standby, and other ISRO team members.

The space agency confirmed that Shukla has begun a week-long rehabilitation programme under the supervision of Axiom Space’s flight surgeon and ISRO’s flight surgeon to mitigate any adverse effects of microgravity. This includes a series of medical checks, especially cardiovascular assessments, musculoskeletal tests, and psychological debriefs.

Astronauts typically experience some dizziness and muscle loss after staying in microgravity, but the impacts tend to minimise with time. “The rehabilitation will focus on monitoring physical and mental health, and addressing any effects of microgravity, and preparing him for a return to normal life," said ISRO in a statement on Thursday.

Meanwhile, his crew member, mission specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, has already flown to Germany, where he was welcomed by officials from the European Space Agency (ESA).

All experiments successfully completed: ISRO

Launched on June 25, the mission marked the first time an Indian entered the Space Station and performed experiments in microgravity. Shukla also brought along with him the results of the seven experiments, which were developed by Indian research institutions under the Human Space Flight Centre’s coordination.

The experiments explored muscle regeneration, algal growth, crop viability, microbial survivability, cognitive performance in space, and the behaviour of cyanobacteria—all aimed at understanding human spaceflight and microgravity science. “All experiments were completed successfully, and samples have been returned for detailed post-flight analysis," confirmed ISRO.

News india Back On Earth, Shubhanshu Shukla Begins Week-Long Recovery In Houston, To Return To India Soon