Axiom-4 Mission: From weather risks to ISRO's spending, all you need to know before Shubhanshu Shukla reaches ISS
SpaceX
prepares to launch the Ax-4 mission on June 11, weather and safety remain top priorities for all partners involved,
Axiom Space
, SpaceX, and NASA.
At a briefing on Monday, June 9, a Launch Weather Officer Jimmy Taeger with the US Space Force, explained that Central Florida's weather is being affected by a high-pressure system from the southeast. This system is expected to move north, changing the wind patterns and possibly causing isolated showers.
Taeger said the weather risk for Tuesday, June 10, had gone down slightly, but it might go up again for Wednesday. 'For June 11, there's about a 20% chance of weather rules being broken. For the backup day, June 12, it's a bit higher, around 25%,' he said.
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Wind conditions are expected to get better mid-week, but passing showers could still be a problem during the launch window. 'Even though winds are improving, the one thing we're watching closely is the chance of showers,' he added.
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Axiom and SpaceX have confirmed they are targeting an 8 am Eastern Time (5:30 pm IST) launch on June 11.
What technical issues did SpaceX face?
SpaceX also had to deal with some technical problems found during pre-launch checks. SpaceX's Vice President William Gerstenmaier of Build and Flight Reliability, said a
liquid oxygen leak
was discovered during a test of the Falcon-9 rocket. This leak had not been spotted earlier after the rocket's last mission for Starlink.
To fix the issue, engineers installed a system to prevent the leak from affecting the mission. 'We discovered the booster hadn't been fully repaired. We're now installing a purge to handle the leak,' he explained.
There was also a problem with the thrust vector control system on one of the engines, which has now been fixed. All repairs are expected to be completed by the evening before launch. Gerstenmaier added that a recent full-scale launch day simulation, known as a 'dry dress rehearsal', went smoothly.
What's new with the Dragon capsule?
This mission will be the first flight for the new version of the
Dragon
spacecraft. Gerstenmaier said the capsule has received several updates, including better food processing and storage, improved propulsion components, and a redesigned system for securing the crew's stairs.
'This isn't just the same old Dragon,' he said. 'We've made improvements to keep it flying safely.'
A busy year for SpaceX
The Ax-4 launch will also be the second flight for the Falcon-9 booster being used. Gerstenmaier said, 'I can't think of a better way for this capsule to enter the fleet than by flying this international crew.'
So far in 2025, SpaceX has already launched three Dragon missions, two of which carried crew, within just 38 days. He added, 'While we were doing those, our teams were also preparing for Axiom-4.'
The Department of Space has invested approximately Rs 413 crore in the Ax-4 mission, which will send Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station, marking him as the first Indian to reach the ISS.
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