The thrilling journey of Axiom Space's latest private mission has reached its climax as the four astronauts say goodbye to the International Space Station (ISS). Their SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, aptly named Grace, undocked from the ISS early this morning, July 14, marking the final phase of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission.

At exactly 7:15 a.m. EDT (11:15 GMT), Grace skillfully maneuvered away from the orbiting laboratory, where the Ax-4 crew had resided for an astonishing 2.5 weeks—about half a week longer than originally planned. After completing a series of deorbit burns, they are on track for a splashdown to Earth around 5:30 a.m. EDT (9:30 GMT) on Tuesday, July 15.

Peggy Whitson at the Helm

Leading the crew is none other than former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Axiom's director of human spaceflight. As Grace drifted from the ISS, Whitson expressed heartfelt gratitude over the comms: "Space Station, Grace, the Ax-4 crew wants to thank you very much for your support. You guys are amazing!" This marks Whitson's fifth mission to space, raising her total days in orbit to an astonishing 695, making her one of the most experienced astronauts in American history.

A Diverse Crew with Historic Firsts

Joining Whitson are three fellow pioneers making their spaceflight debuts: pilot Shubhanshu "Shux" Shukla, and mission specialists S2awosz "Suave" Uzna4ski-Wibiewski, and Tibor Kapu. Each of them also holds the title of being the first astronauts from their respective countries to visit the ISS.

Shux, a pilot in the Indian Air Force, is also among the four astronauts selected for India’s upcoming human spaceflight mission called Gaganyaan. Suave represents Poland as part of the European Space Agency, while Tibor Kapu is a part of Hungary’s HUNOR space program.

Beyond Adventure: Groundbreaking Research

Launched on June 26 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the historic Launch Complex-39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Ax-4 crew was originally scheduled for a two-week mission filled with groundbreaking research. Their stay aboard the ISS turned out to be about four days longer than planned, during which they conducted over 60 experiments and technology demonstrations involving contributions from 31 nations—setting a new record for Axiom.

Onward to Earth!

With the departure procedures commencing this morning at 4:30 a.m. EDT (08:30 GMT), the Ax-4 crew boarded Grace, sealing the hatch at 5:07 a.m. EDT (09:07 GMT). Currently on an epic 22.5-hour journey back to Earth, they are expected to land in the Pacific Ocean off California's coast early Tuesday.

This marks only SpaceX’s second recovery operation along the West Coast, after the Crew-9 mission last March. The decision to permanently switch recovery zones from the Atlantic and Gulf to the Pacific Ocean aims to reduce the risk of debris from the Dragon capsule causing any harm during reentry, ensuring a safer return for future missions.