Divya Delhi: After his successful 18-day stay at the International Space Station (ISS), Indian Air Force pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla began his week-long rehabilitation program in Houston, ISRO stated. Recent reports suggest the Gaganyaan astronaut-designate may return to India sooner than expected. Shukla was one of four crew members who rode SpaceX Dragon on June 25, leading Axiom Space's fourth private voyage alongside ISRO, NASA, and ESA. After the splashdown into the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, Southern California, on Tuesday afternoon, SpaceX's recovery teams evacuated the crew and performed preliminary health checks at the recovery ship. ISRO verified early health evaluations showed Shukla was stable and had no immediate health issues. The IAF pilot was helicoptered from the recovery ship to the mainland for medical assessments and debriefing. He met his wife and child in Houston after being transported there. He also visited ISRO team members and Gaganyaan astronaut-designate Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, who trained with Shukla for the Axiom Mission-4 and stayed on standby. The space agency said Shukla has started a week-long rehabilitation procedure under Axiom Space and ISRO flight surgeons to counteract microgravity's effects. This involves cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and psychological evaluations. After microgravity, astronauts experience disorientation and muscle loss, but these effects fade over time. "The rehabilitation will monitor physical and mental health, address microgravity effects, and prepare him for normal life," ISRO added.