"Dangerous": India's Science Chief Flags Liquid Oxygen Leak On Axiom 4
New Delhi:
India's second astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is set to embark on the Axiom 4 mission from Kennedy Space Center aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 Crew Dragon. The 14-day journey to the International Space Station (ISS) marks a significant milestone in India's human spaceflight ambitions. In an exclusive conversation, Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, offered insights into the technical challenges and safety imperatives of this high-stakes mission.
Professor Sood reaffirmed the complexity of rocket science, especially when human lives are involved.
"It is indeed rocket science," he said, emphasizing that the integration of hundreds of thousands of components, particularly those involving liquid propellants, saying it is "far from trivial'.
"It is not something which you can just say that once you put together everything, it works like charm. It does not work like charm," he explained.
The recent delay in the launch, caused by a leak in the liquid oxygen line, brought these challenges into sharp focus.
Professor Sood described such leaks as "unpredictably dangerous", noting that even minor breaches can escalate under high temperatures. "Everything is very measured. So, there is no question that the leak can be tolerated," he said, stressing that there is no room for compromise when human safety is at stake.
The leak was detected and resolved by the SpaceX team, and the decision to postpone the launch was made collectively by SpaceX, ISRO, and other stakeholders in the mission. Professor Sood praised this collaborative approach, calling it a model of international coordination.
"This is what it means when we talk of collaboration and co-development," he said. "It is not to say that one is doing more than the other. It's a collective decision."
The Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space, represents a leap forward for India's space programme.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's participation in Axiom 4 is a testament to India's growing capabilities and commitment to global partnerships in space exploration. The mission also highlights the importance of rigorous safety protocols and technical precision in human spaceflight.
As the launch date approaches, the focus remains on ensuring that all systems are functioning flawlessly.
Professor Sood expressed confidence in the mission's success, saying, "I'm very certain that with all difficulties under control, we will have a successful mission."
Professor Sood reassured the Indian public that every delay and decision has been made with safety as the top priority with "Safety first, safety always" being the guiding principle.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Scientists develop DNA test to curb illegal trade in wild quail
Patna: In a major breakthrough in wildlife forensics, a team of Indian scientists has developed a foolproof method for distinguishing between the Common Quail and the Japanese Quail, two bird species so similar that even trained ornithologists often struggle to tell them apart. The joint study was carried out by Rana Pratap Singh of the Central University of South Bihar (CUSB), Gaya; K V H Sastry of the National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bengaluru and Prateek Dey of the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore. Published in the prestigious scientific journal MDPI Birds, the study offers wildlife officials a powerful new tool to combat the illegal trade in wild Common Quail, frequently misrepresented as legally farmed Japanese Quail. The research was supported by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change. The team developed a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique targeting a specific gene in the birds' DNA. Explaining the technique, team leader Rana Pratap Singh said, "What makes our method particularly powerful is its simplicity and reliability. Wildlife officials with basic laboratory facilities can now definitively identify these species within hours, rather than relying on uncertain morphological characteristics." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo The method works by detecting a unique site in the COX1 gene of the Common Quail that is absent in the Japanese Quail. When the DNA is treated with a specific enzyme called BsaBI, it produces distinct fragments, generating different banding patterns for each species when visualised on a gel, Singh said. The illegal trade of wild Common Quail has long been a problem in India. While Japanese Quail farming is legal, the hunting of wild Common Quail is prohibited. The Indian govt had earlier banned Japanese Quail farming altogether due to the difficulty in distinguishing between the two species, before lifting the ban after further evaluation. Research scholar Prateek Dey said distinguishing the Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) from the Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) has posed a long-standing challenge for wildlife conservation. "The uncanny similarity between these species facilitated illegal wildlife trade and hampered conservation efforts for years. Our technique provides a practical solution that empowers wildlife managers to regulate the illegal trade effectively," he said. This breakthrough could have major implications for quail conservation across Asia, Europe and Africa. Beyond its immediate use in law enforcement, the study highlights the broader value of molecular techniques in species conservation. Another team member, Sastry, added that the team had initially attempted to use microsatellite markers for species identification but found the PCR-RFLP method to be far more reliable.
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
From classrooms to code: Students tackle real-world issues with innovation
Over 37,000 students from 660+ districts across India participated in a national-level innovation challenge, showcasing future-ready solutions under the banner of a transformative education and technology initiative. The event, held on June 15 at The Ashok, New Delhi, celebrated the creativity and impact-driven thinking of students from Grades 8 to program, organised in partnership with CIET-NCERT, IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation, and the UN Global Compact Network India, concluded with the felicitation of the top 10 student teams selected through a rigorous three-stage evaluation process. More than 250 guests attended the ceremony, including finalists, school representatives, and year's competition saw over 5,600 tech-based project submissions under the theme 'Tech for Good'. Entries ranged from crime detection and environmental sustainability to public safety and rehabilitation. The top five projects were awarded scholarships ranging from Rs 75,000 to Rs 6 lakhs each, while finalists ranked 6 to 10 received Rs 25,000 first prize went to Prateek Sethi from Odisha for developing an AI-powered criminal activity detection system using sensor-less Wi-Fi sensing, a non-intrusive surveillance solution aimed at public safety. Other winning innovations included:ArmX, a smart rehabilitation glove-robotic system for individuals with one-hand Run for Green Souls, a project enabling wind-powered EV charging Arduino-Based LPG Leak Detector, enhancing domestic safety with a real-time tree health monitoring device built for environmental conservation.A special segment also spotlighted women scholars supported under the STEM-focused empowerment initiative for girls from underserved backgrounds, many of whom are now enrolled in top-tier institutes as first-generation finale was hosted by tech expert Rajiv Makhni and attended by dignitaries such as Prof Indu Kumar (CIET-NCERT), Mr Ratnesh Jha (UNGCNI), and Mr Rajendra Mootha (IITM Pravartak), among initiative reflects a growing movement to embed innovation, sustainability, and real-world problem-solving in the Indian school system. With each edition, the platform continues to reach deeper into India's academic landscape, cultivating socially conscious change-makers and tomorrow's tech leaders. advertisement
India Gazette
5 hours ago
- India Gazette
DNA lab works around the clock to identify victims of Ahmedabad plane crash
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India] June 16 (ANI): The DNA Lab of the Directorate of Forensic Science in Gujarat has emerged as the focal point of a large-scale identification initiative. Scientists and forensic specialists are diligently working to recognise the victims using advanced DNA testing techniques. The Air India flight that was travelling from Ahmedabad to London met with disaster shortly after taking off on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of 241 of the 242 individuals aboard. Among the passengers were 230 civilians along with 12 crew members. The sole survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British citizen of Indian descent, is currently receiving medical care. Additionally, at least 33 others, including residents and MBBS students residing in a nearby doctors' hostel, also perished when the plane crashed into the building. At the DNA Lab, the process of identification is segmented into four essential stages, each vital for obtaining precise genetic profiles from the remains. The procedure initiates in the Isolation Lab, where human remains and postmortem samples sourced from the crash site are analysed. Forensic professionals tackle challenging materials like charred bones, teeth, and tissue fragments. These materials undergo chemical treatment and are processed with advanced machinery to extract DNA even from the most compromised samples. After DNA extraction, it proceeds to the Quantification Lab. This lab's role is to assess the quality and quantity of the DNA. Tools such as real-time PCR (RT-PCR) machines and automated liquid handling systems guarantee that only suitable samples are sent for subsequent processing. The third phase occurs in the PCR Lab, where the DNA is amplified to ensure sufficient material for precise analysis. A thermal cycler machine is utilised alongside STR (Short Tandem Repeat) kits to amplify the DNA sequences. In the final stage, the Sequencing Lab analyses the amplified DNA using advanced sequencing machines. The information gained from this stage is utilised by senior scientists to create detailed DNA profiles. These profiles are subsequently compared with reference samples provided by the victims' families, enabling officials to verify the identities of those who lost their lives in the tragedy. The Directorate has requested that family members submit DNA samples to hasten the identification procedure. (ANI)
