Astronaut Shukla: 'Bharat Looks Saare Jahan Se Accha from Space

India looks full of ambition, fearless, confident, and proud from space, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla said on Sunday as he prepared to return to Earth after an 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Even today, Bharat looks 'saare jahan se accha' from above," Shukla said, reprising the iconic words of Rakesh Sharma, India's first astronaut, during a farewell ceremony for the Axiom-4 crew. The Ax-4 team, which docked at the ISS on June 26, is set to undock on Monday at 4:35 pm IST and is expected to splash down off the California coast on July 15 at 3:00 pm IST.

The Axiom-4 mission includes Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and Mission Specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The four astronauts have conducted a series of research experiments during their stay, including studies on microalgae, cardiovascular function, radiation exposure, and cognitive adaptability in space.

NASA said the Dragon spacecraft will return with more than 580 pounds of cargo, including data from over 60 experiments conducted during the mission. According to ISRO, Shukla will undergo a seven-day rehabilitation programme after splashdown to help him adapt back to Earth's gravity under the supervision of flight surgeons.