What next for Shukla, Ax-4 crew & Axiom Space

With over 20 days and more than 60 experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) crew, including Shubhanshu Shukla, which returned to Earth Tuesday, will enter a week-long rehabilitation programme.The crew, which has completed initial medical evaluations, will go through the extensive rehab programme, following which mission debriefs and other procedures will unfold. According to sources from Axiom Space, upon completion of the seven days, the crew is expected to get a week’s break before the debriefing commences.Meanwhile, the more than 580 pounds of scientific samples and hardware from the 60+ scientific experiments covering life sciences, materials research, Earth observation, and technology demonstrations from 31 countries, will now be returned to respective agencies.Principal investigators of the experiments, including studies on microgravity, suit fabrics, muscle stimulation, micro‑algae systems, and environmental psychology, will analyse the samples and data in the coming weeks . Scientific publications are expected to take more time.Beyond science, the crew engaged in more than 20 outreach events, interacting with students, officials, and researchers worldwide.“The Ax-4 mission is a powerful demonstration of what’s possible through commercial space. By enabling astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary to carry out scientific research aboard the space station, we are supporting these nations in their contributions to human spaceflight. This mission reflects Axiom’s vision of a thriving low-Earth orbit economy, where access to space is no longer limited to a few, but extends to all who seek to explore, discover, and innovate,” Axiom Space CEO Tejpaul Bhatia, said.Reiterating that for each of these countries, Ax-4 signalled a return to human spaceflight after over 40 years, Axiom Space said: “It was also the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary conducted a mission on the ISS.” With Ax‑4 completed, Axiom Space’s attention shifts to the Axiom-5 mission, currently targeted for no earlier than May 2026 — a 14‑to‑21‑day ISS mission that will carry a new crew.