Chennai, July 24 -- After the successful splashdown of the four-member A-4 Mission, piloted by decorated Indian pilot Shubhanshu Shukla after a 18-day stay the orbiting lab, NASA has commenced final preparations on ground for crew swap in early August at the International Space Station (ISS).

In an update, NASA today said it was also continuing space health studies as four members of Expedition 73 are ready to unpack and return to earth, while another four-member are gearing up to replace them at ISS.

The Ax-4 crew comprising astronauts from India, US, Hungary and Poland took off to ISS on June 25 onboard a falcon rocket from Florida, docked at the ISS the next day after a 28 hr flight journey, stayed in the Orbiting lab for 18 days and...