NASA retiree turned private astronaut Peggy Whitson splashed down safely in the Pacific early on Tuesday after her fifth trip to the International Space Station, joined by crewmates from India, Poland and Hungary returning from their countries' first ISS mission.

The International Space Station (ISS) is a cutting-edge, habitable satellite orbiting Earth, serving as a global research lab for science, technology, and space exploration.

Shukla’s mission began with a launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on July 1, as part of the privately operated Axiom Space Mission-4. His arrival at the ISS marked a national milestone — the second Indian in space since Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission, and the very first to reach the orbiting laboratory.

During his time aboard the International Space Station, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla carried out seven India-specific microgravity experiments, highlighting the country's advancing expertise in space science and technology.

It was Axiom's fourth mission to the space station, part of NASA's effort to open up space to more businesses and people.

The private crew included Ax-4 mission commander and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. It was her fifth trip to space and extended her record-setting duration to 695 days, the most of any American.

India celebrates the homecoming of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla after his 18-day mission at the International Space Station. The mission is a milestone for India's space exploration, inspiring aspirations in the country's future space endeavors.

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday extended a warm welcome to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla upon his return to Earth following the successful completion of Axiom-4, describing the achievement as a significant milestone for India's growing presence in space exploration and international scientific cooperation.