The formal farewell for the Axiom-4 crew began at around 9:50 AM EDT on Sunday, marking the conclusion of their 18-day mission at the International Space Station (ISS). This mission is set to culminate tomorrow with a splashdown expected off the California coast.
Historic Milestone for India
With the Axiom-4 mission, India reached a significant milestone by sending an astronaut to the ISS for the first time. Shubhanshu Shukla, known as “Shux,” made history as only the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma’s groundbreaking flight to the Salyut-7 space station in 1984 as part of a Soviet mission.
A collaboration between NASA and ISRO allowed Axiom Mission 4 to deliver on a commitment highlighted by President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first ISRO astronaut to the station. The space agencies participated in five joint science investigations and two in-orbit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics demonstrations.
Axiom-4 Crew and Farewell Ceremony
The Axiom-4 crew comprises Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and Mission Specialists Slawosz “Suave” Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu. During the farewell, Axiom Space provided a livestream of the ceremony via their X handle.
Ax-4 Mission | Farewell Ceremony https://t.co/QGDDfXD84R
— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) July 13, 2025
Key Timeline and Live Coverage
The undocking of the Axiom-4 crew is scheduled for 7:05 AM EDT on Monday. NASA will offer live coverage of this significant event as the astronauts depart the ISS, which currently hosts 11 astronauts—seven from Expedition 73 and the four Axiom-4 mission members.
Monday, July 14
4:30 a.m. – Hatch closing coverage begins on NASA+.
4:55 a.m. – Crew enters spacecraft followed by hatch closing.
6:45 a.m. – Undocking coverage begins on NASA+, Axiom Space, and SpaceX channels.
7:05 a.m. – Undocking
Final Moments on the ISS
One of the most unforgettable evenings I’ve experienced on this mission was sharing a meal with new friends, Ax-4, aboard the International @Space_Station.
We swapped stories and marveled at how people from diverse backgrounds and nations came together to represent humanity in… pic.twitter.com/hdzXxrwLaV
— Jonny Kim (@JonnyKimUSA) July 10, 2025
As their mission neared its end, the astronauts aboard the ISS shared a memorable final feast featuring cuisine from the six nations represented in the crew. US astronaut Jonny Kim expressed his feelings about the experience, stating:
“One of the most unforgettable evenings I’ve experienced on this mission was sharing a meal with new friends, Ax-4, aboard the International @Space_Station.”
Investment in Future Missions
According to reports, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) invested approximately $66 million for Shukla’s mission to the ISS. His experience is critical for ISRO as they prepare for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, set to launch in 2027.
