Axiom-4 put off again after leak detected on space station
The launch of the Axiom-4 mission, on which Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is supposed to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) along with three others, was put on an indefinite hold on Thursday, after a problem was detected on the space station itself.
US space agency NASA said a 'new pressure signature', indicating a possible air leak, had been observed on the ISS.
'NASA and Axiom Space are postponing the launch of Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station. As part of an ongoing investigation, NASA is working with (Russian space agency) Roscosmos to understand a new pressure signature, after the recent post-repair effort in the aft (rear) most segment of the International Space Station's Zvezda service module,' NASA and Axiom Space said.
'A new launch date for the fourth private astronaut mission (Axiom-4) will be provided once available,' it said.
The mission was originally supposed to fly Tuesday, but was postponed by a day due to bad weather. It could not take off on Wednesday as well after a leak of liquid oxygen was detected in the rocket. Now, a fresh trouble has emerged, this time on the space station, which has been built jointly by the US and Russia.
The problem of air leak on the space station is not new. It has been going on since 2019 at least when it was noticed that the Zvezda service module, which is a part of the Russian side of the ISS, had developed small but multiple cracks, which had led to air leaks. The cracks had been repaired with glue and sealants, but over time, new cracks have been detected. There is an ongoing effort to repair the module, but it seems a new crack has emerged, giving rise to the 'new pressure signature' mentioned in the NASA statement.
There are seven astronauts currently on the ISS — three each from the United States and Russia and one from Japan. Adding four more people at a time when the cracks are still to be repaired could pose a risk to the infrastructure as well as the astronauts. As a result, the mission has been put on hold for the time being.
'Cosmonauts (Russian astronauts) aboard the space station recently performed inspections of the pressurized module's interior surfaces, sealed some additional areas of interest, and measured the current leak rate. Following this effort, the segment now is holding pressure. The postponement of Axiom Mission 4 provides additional time for NASA and Roscosmos to evaluate the situation and determine whether any additional troubleshooting is necessary,' the statement said.
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