Polish astronaut returns to Earth – live coverage of Axiom 4 splashdown

After 18 days in orbit, the Axiom 4 crew, including Poland’s Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at around 11:30 a.m. Polish time, with the return broadcast live on our website.

Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and the Axiom 4 crew are descending toward splashdown in the Pacific Ocean after 18 days in orbit.

Photo: European Space Agency

The Dragon capsule is currently performing its deorbit burn, after which the service module will separate and the descent toward Earth will begin.

As part of the deorbit maneuver, the capsule’s engines fired to initiate the descent toward Earth and the Pacific Ocean.

At 10:56 a.m. Polish time, the lower section separated, beginning the final drop. The crew is expected to temporarily lose communications for about six minutes while a heat shield protects the spacecraft during reentry.

Further updates are available in the live coverage provided by Axiom Space below.

🔴 LIVE: Watch @esa project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland return to Earth.

▶️ https://t.co/FZClUWBq6d
🪂 Splashdown: 10:30 BST/11:30 CEST.
🎯 Landing target: Off the coast of California, USA. #Ignis #Ax4 pic.twitter.com/UStHjjaBDQ

— Human Spaceflight (@esaspaceflight) July 15, 2025

Goodbye, International @Space_Station! Undocking confirmed at at 12:15 BST/ 13:15 CEST.

The Dragon spacecraft now begins its journey home. @astro_slawosz and the #Ax4 crew are starting a 22-hour trip back to Earth.

Since it was during orbital nighttime, we didn't get live… pic.twitter.com/x0jml5KWGg

— Human Spaceflight (@esaspaceflight) July 14, 2025

Read more about this topic:

• On the way back home: Polish astronaut set to return from space
• Polish astronaut returns to Earth, carrying WOŚP’s golden heart from space
• Key takeaways from Poland’s space mission as its astronaut returns to Earth

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Source: Axiom Space/X/@SpaceX/@esaspaceflight