Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and Axiom-4 Crew to Return to Earth on July 14, NASA

Steve Stitch, Manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, shared the update during a briefing on the upcoming Crew-11 mission, stating that the Ax-4 crew’s return is planned for shortly after the conclusion of the ISS’s current "high beta period" — a phase during which the station receives nearly continuous sunlight due to the orbital angle with respect to the sun. This requires increased thermal regulation to prevent overheating.

The Axiom-4 mission launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25, with the crew arriving at the ISS after a 28-hour journey aboard the Dragon spacecraft on June 26.

Since their arrival, the team — including Shukla, veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu — has completed over 230 orbits of Earth and covered approximately 9.65 million kilometers in space.

Axiom Space revealed that the Ax-4 crew had their final off-duty day aboard the ISS and has witnessed 230 sunrises during their mission. They have also engaged in various outreach activities — including a conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, interactions with ISRO scientists, and a live session with school students. Shukla also connected with Indian ground stations using amateur (HAM) radio.

In addition to outreach, the Ax-4 crew has been part of an intensive research agenda — conducting more than 60 scientific experiments across diverse fields such as biomedical science, space agriculture, advanced materials, neuroscience, and space tech. These studies are expected to contribute significantly to both future space missions and Earth-based applications, including innovations in diabetes treatment, cancer research, and human health monitoring.

Axiom Space emphasized that this mission represents the highest volume of scientific work done on any of their private astronaut missions so far. “Every test tube, data point, and observation helps pave the way for sustainable living and working environments in low-Earth orbit — and eventually, beyond,” the company said.

The crew is expected to undock from the ISS and begin their return journey on July 14, with re-entry and splashdown anticipated shortly after.