Shubhanshu Shukla’s Journey Back to Earth Delayed—What’s Happening in Space?

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, currently on board the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission, may not return to Earth on the originally planned date. The mission, launched on June 25, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, included astronauts from the US, Poland, and Hungary alongside Shukla.

The return has now been delayed by several days, with the European Space Agency suggesting that the crew may not land before July 14. The astronauts are to return via SpaceX's Dragon capsule, which must splash down in either the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. However, unfavorable weather conditions, including high winds and possible storms, have made the landing unsafe at this time.

In addition, a recent pressure leak was detected in the Russian-built Zvezda module of the ISS. Though initial repairs were completed, new alerts suggest further inspection is required. The safety of the crew remains the top priority, and no departure will proceed until all systems are cleared. The return will be rescheduled once weather and technical assessments confirm safe conditions. A similar delay occurred during the Axiom-1 mission in the past due to similar splashdown risks.