As India prepares for its joint mission return from the International Space Station (ISS), the final hour before re-entry is one of the most critical and tense phases of the entire space journey. It’s not just about landing—it’s about surviving Earth’s atmosphere and doing it with precision.
In the last hour, astronauts follow a tightly choreographed series of steps. First, the spacecraft detaches from the ISS—a process known as undocking. This alone is a careful maneuver. Once the vehicle is clear of the station, it slowly adjusts its orbit and prepares for the descent.
Then comes the deorbit burn. This is when the spacecraft’s engines fire in reverse to reduce speed. It’s a short but essential step, helping the capsule drop from orbit into Earth’s atmosphere. Timing is everything here—just a few seconds off, and the landing could miss the target area by hundreds of kilometers.
As the spacecraft begins re-entry, it faces extreme heat due to friction with Earth’s atmosphere. The capsule’s heat shield plays a huge role in protecting the astronauts during this fiery phase. Inside, everything is silent—except for mission control updates and the occasional shudder from turbulence.
Parachutes deploy once the capsule slows down near Earth’s surface, guiding it safely to the ground or sea. For India’s astronauts, this moment marks the end of a historic mission and the start of a new chapter in the country’s space journey.
This final hour may be short, but it’s filled with years of preparation, technology, and trust.