Axiom 4: Return Unlikely Before July 14

The European Space Agency (ESA) has suggested that the Axiom-4 mission crew currently on board the International Space Station (ISS) will not return to Earth before July 14. The earlier stipulated stay period of two weeks is extended with ESA’s comment.

Axiom-4 mission comprises astronauts: mission commander Peggy Whitson, mission pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu.

After a 28-hour journey, the capsule docked with the ISS on June 26. Scientific work officially began on June 27. By the original timeline, the mission was expected to end by July 10. But ESA, in a media advisory, stated that the return of its astronaut Sławosz — and therefore the entire Axiom-4 crew will not take place before July 14.

ESA indicated July 14 as the earliest date for their return, “Please note that the date is not yet confirmed and depends on the undocking of the Dragon spacecraft,” read the statement. There was no public confirmation from ISRO on the return date.

"Mission extensions like this are not unusual. Delays often happen due to technical checks, space weather conditions, or the need for safe landing zones on Earth. Past issues such as a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket and an air leak in the ISS's Zvezda module show how even small problems can lead to changes in schedule," said space analyst Girish Linganna.

"Astronauts undergo intense physical and mental training long before they launch. They are taught how to handle emergencies, deal with isolation, manage stress, and stay fit in zero gravity. This makes them mentally strong and physically equipped to handle longer stays aboard the ISS, even beyond their original mission timelines," added Linganna.

ESA also said that shortly after arrival, Sławosz will be brought to ESA’s European Astronaut Centre and the German Aerospace Centre’s state-of-the-art ‘envihab’ facility, which provides a crucial hub for debriefing, medical monitoring and rehabilitation after missions.

“ESA’s space medicine team, which includes ESA flight surgeons, physiotherapists, and physical trainers, will monitor Sławosz as he readapts to Earth’s gravity with a dedicated recovery programme,” the statement read.

The ISS is also well-stocked with essential items to support both short- and long-duration missions. The station carries a steady supply of packaged food, water stored in special containers, and even oxygen generation systems. 

Backup supplies are also regularly delivered by cargo missions. So even if a mission is extended, the astronauts will continue to have access to all basic needs—including medical support, communication with Earth, and daily exercise routines to maintain muscle and bone strength.

As the Axiom-4 crew continues their extended stay aboard the ISS, the world waits for an official return date—and a safe homecoming—for Shubhanshu Shukla and his team, who are carrying out important scientific work and representing a new chapter in international space cooperation.

Shubhanshu Shukla was born in Lucknow in 1985 to Shambhu Shukla and Asha Shukla. He received his education from Montessori through Class 12 at City Montessori School in Aliganj. Shukla went on to graduate from the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2006.

Shukla has over 2,000 hours of flight experience on elite combat aircraft. He was selected in 2019 for India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. In 2025, he was named as the pilot for Axiom-4.