Shubhanshu Shukla launched: Next up Ax-4 docking with the Space Station
SpaceX successfully launched the Ax-4 mission with Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on a historic maiden space mission from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday.The Falcon-9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft atop launched with four astronauts from the US, India, Hungary and Poland on a 14-day mission to the Space Station, where they will live and conduct several science experiments.advertisementThe Ax-4 mission marks the fourth instalment of the private mission led by Axiom Space. Shubhanshu Shukla, who is the mission pilot, is joined by Commander Peggy Whitson and Mission Specialists Sawosz Uznaski-Winiewski, and Tibor Kapu Tibor Kapu as they undertake a cat and mouse chase with the ISS ahead of docking. WHAT'S NEXT? DOCKING
As the Falcon-9 delivered the Crew Dragon into space, the four astronauts will now work towards catching the Space Station which is flying above them.Nasa revealed the Dragon spacecraft with the four private astronauts will take over 24 hours to align with the Space Station and the docking is scheduled for 10:00 pm IST.Shukla, who is the mission pilot, will have a keen eye on the trajectory, orbital parameters and the movement of the space station as the computers line them up for docking. A test pilot of multiple aircraft including the MiG-21 and Sukhoi, Shubhanshu Shukla's role as pilot of the Dragon spacecraft will be supervisory.
The spacecraft is scheduled to autonomously dock to the space-facing port of the ISS's Harmony module. (Photo: SpaceX)
advertisementShux's, as called by his team, responsibilities include monitoring the Crew Dragon's trajectory and assisting with manual inputs if the autonomous system requires correction, verifying the health of critical systems like avionics, propulsion, life support, during ascent, rendezvous, and docking, preparedness to execute contingency procedures, such as initiating an abort during launch or a collision avoidance manoeuvre (CAM) during rendezvous.The Dragon spacecraft is designed for autonomous flight and docking. The mission pilot serves as a highly trained supervisor and backup manual operator rather than a hands-on pilot for most of the journey.Once docking is confirmed, the Dragon will be depressurised and the hatch will open for the astronaut transfer. The four astronauts will then flow into zero gravity inside the Space Station for their 14-day stay in microgravity.All eyes will now be on the Drago spacecraft cat and mouse chase to align with the Space Station on Wednesday for the critical docking operation.- EndsTune InMust Watch
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