Ax-4 crew remains upbeat, says Commander Whitson as launch is delayed
The Ax-4 crew remains upbeat despite another delay in their much-anticipated mission to the International Space Station, Mission Commander and former NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson wrote on X on Wednesday. The latest postponement comes after a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak was discovered during post-static fire inspections of the Falcon 9 booster. The rocket is set to carry Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla into orbit.
advertisementPeggy Whitson, in a statement posted on social media, said setbacks and delays are a normal part of spaceflight. "Our Ax-4 crew remains upbeat and looking forward to a safe and successful flight to the Space Station," she wrote.Earlier in the day, SpaceX announced it was standing down from the June 11 launch date to allow teams additional time to address the LOx issue. Once repairs are complete and pending range availability, SpaceX will announce a revised schedule.
The launch, operated by Houston-based Axiom Space, had initially been slated for May 29 but has faced multiple delays due to weather and technical concerns. The current hold extends that timeline, even as mission managers work toward ensuring safety and operational readiness.Meanwhile, NASA has outlined a range of potential launch windows for the Ax-4 mission, offering some flexibility in the timeline. According to Dana Weigel, Manager of NASA's International Space Station Programme, launch opportunities remain open through June 30, with additional options available in mid-July following a temporary operational pause. The schedule is also dependent on planned traffic at the ISS, including the undocking of Russia's Progress cargo vehicle and the arrival of another spacecraft in early July.advertisementThe mission is particularly significant for India, as it marks a historic milestone with Shubhanshu Shukla becoming the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station. A decorated test pilot with over 2,000 hours of flight experience, Shukla will take part in scientific research aboard the ISS during the mission's planned 10-day stay.His participation highlights India's growing ambitions in human spaceflight and aligns with national efforts to boost interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among younger generations.As SpaceX continues to troubleshoot the rocket issue and coordinate with NASA, the Ax-4 mission holds strong symbolic value for both international collaboration and India's expanding role in space exploration.
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