Astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary blast off on privately funded ISS trip
India, Poland and Hungary have launched their first astronauts in more than 40 years, sending them on a private flight to the International Space Station (ISS).
The three countries shared the tab for the two-week mission.
Axiom Space, the Houston company that arranged the deal, put the ticket price at more than 65 million dollars (£47.7 million) per customer.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of four aboard a Dragon Spacecraft lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida (Terry Renna/AP)
SpaceX's Falcon rocket blasted off from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre two weeks late because of space station leak concerns.
The capsule on top carried not only the three newcomers to space – none of whom were alive when their countries' first astronauts launched – but America's most experienced astronaut, Peggy Whitson.
Besides Ms Whitson, the crew includes India's Shubhanshu Shukla, a pilot in the Indian Air Force; Hungary's Tibor Kapu, a mechanical engineer; and Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, a radiation expert and one of the European Space Agency's project astronauts sometimes pressed into temporary duty.
The astronauts are due to arrive at the orbiting lab the next morning.
In addition to dozens of experiments, the astronauts are flying food that celebrates their heritage: Indian curry and rice with mango nectar; spicy Hungarian paprika paste; and freeze-fried Polish pierogies.
Hungary's first astronaut, Bertalan Farkas, cheered on Mr Kapu from the launch site.
'For such a small country as Hungary, it is really important to collaborate in a peaceful international space co-operation,' Mr Farkas told The Associated Press.
He called it 'one of the most important moments' of his life.
SpaceX Falcon 9 crew, left to right, Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Space Research Organisation, Tibor Kapu of Hungary, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and commander Peggy Whitson before departing for pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Ca
Mr Farkas launched with the Soviets in 1980, taking along a teddy bear in a cosmonaut suit that went back up with Mr Kapu.
India and Poland's original astronauts also launched with the Soviets in the late 1970s and 1980s.
Mr Uznanski-Wisniewski carried up the Polish flag worn on his predecessor's spacesuit, noting that Miroslaw Hermaszewski was his biggest supporter until his death in 2022.
India's first astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, could not make it to Florida for the launch; Mr Shukla said he has been a mentor 'at every step of this journey' and is flying a surprise gift for him.
While others born in India and Hungary have flown in space before – including Nasa astronaut Kalpana Chawla, who died aboard the shuttle Columbia in 2003, and two-time space tourist Charles Simonyi, of Microsoft fame – they were US citizens at the time of launch.
Mr Shukla said before the flight that he hopes 'to ignite the curiosity of an entire generation in my country' and drive innovation.
Like his crewmates, he plans several outreach events with those back home.
'I truly believe that even though I, as an individual, am travelling to space, this is the journey of 1.4 billion people,' he said.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of four aboard a Dragon Spacecraft lifts off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida (Terry Renna/AP)
It was Axiom's fourth chartered flight to the space station since 2022 and Ms Whitson's second time flying as an Axiom crew commander and chaperone.
The trip caused her to miss her induction into the US Astronaut Hall of Fame late last month, since she was in quarantine before the flight.
Ms Whitson joined Axiom after retiring from Nasa nearly a decade ago and has logged almost two years in orbit over her career.
Once opposed to non-traditional station guests, Nasa now throws out the welcome mat, charging for their food and upkeep while insisting that an experienced astronaut accompany them.
It is all part of Nasa's push to open space – Moon included – to private businesses.
Axiom is among several US companies planning to launch their own space stations in the next few years.
The goal is for them to be up and running before the international station comes down in 2031 after more than three decades of operation.
Access to space 'is not only for the biggest agencies anymore – space is for everyone', Mr Uznanski-Wisniewski said ahead of lift-off.
Shubhanshu Shukla, Tibor Kapu, Peggy Whitson and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski pose for a photo before departing for a launch to the International Space Station (Terry Renna/AP)
He repeated the sentiment upon reaching orbit.
Hungarians want to 'sit at the same table with the giants', said Mr Kapu.
Through this mission 'Hungary gets one step closer to the stars'.
They should have flown earlier this year, but their mission was delayed following a switch in SpaceX capsules.
The change enabled Nasa's two stuck astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return to Earth in March sooner than planned.
The Axiom astronauts faced more launch delays once arriving in Florida.
SpaceX had to fix an oxygen leak in its rocket, then Nasa put the crew's visit on indefinite hold while monitoring repairs to longtime air leaks on the Russian side of the space station.
Once in orbit, the astronauts radioed messages in their native languages and revealed the name they gave to their brand-new capsule: Grace.
'Good things come to those who wait,' SpaceX told the crew.
'Godspeed to the maiden crew of Grace.'
SpaceX chief executive and founder Elon Musk's Falcon rockets launching from Florida and California are considerably smaller than the Starships making test flights out of Texas and, this year, exploding one after the other.
Reliable frequent flyers, Falcons have been carrying crews to orbit since 2020.
Nasa needs Starship for the Moon, while Mr Musk envisions it for Mars travel.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
15 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary blast off on privately funded ISS trip
India, Poland and Hungary have launched their first astronauts in more than 40 years, sending them on a private flight to the International Space Station (ISS). The three countries shared the tab for the two-week mission. Axiom Space, the Houston company that arranged the deal, put the ticket price at more than 65 million dollars (£47.7 million) per customer. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of four aboard a Dragon Spacecraft lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida (Terry Renna/AP) SpaceX's Falcon rocket blasted off from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre two weeks late because of space station leak concerns. The capsule on top carried not only the three newcomers to space – none of whom were alive when their countries' first astronauts launched – but America's most experienced astronaut, Peggy Whitson. Besides Ms Whitson, the crew includes India's Shubhanshu Shukla, a pilot in the Indian Air Force; Hungary's Tibor Kapu, a mechanical engineer; and Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, a radiation expert and one of the European Space Agency's project astronauts sometimes pressed into temporary duty. The astronauts are due to arrive at the orbiting lab the next morning. In addition to dozens of experiments, the astronauts are flying food that celebrates their heritage: Indian curry and rice with mango nectar; spicy Hungarian paprika paste; and freeze-fried Polish pierogies. Hungary's first astronaut, Bertalan Farkas, cheered on Mr Kapu from the launch site. 'For such a small country as Hungary, it is really important to collaborate in a peaceful international space co-operation,' Mr Farkas told The Associated Press. He called it 'one of the most important moments' of his life. SpaceX Falcon 9 crew, left to right, Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Space Research Organisation, Tibor Kapu of Hungary, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and commander Peggy Whitson before departing for pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Ca Mr Farkas launched with the Soviets in 1980, taking along a teddy bear in a cosmonaut suit that went back up with Mr Kapu. India and Poland's original astronauts also launched with the Soviets in the late 1970s and 1980s. Mr Uznanski-Wisniewski carried up the Polish flag worn on his predecessor's spacesuit, noting that Miroslaw Hermaszewski was his biggest supporter until his death in 2022. India's first astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, could not make it to Florida for the launch; Mr Shukla said he has been a mentor 'at every step of this journey' and is flying a surprise gift for him. While others born in India and Hungary have flown in space before – including Nasa astronaut Kalpana Chawla, who died aboard the shuttle Columbia in 2003, and two-time space tourist Charles Simonyi, of Microsoft fame – they were US citizens at the time of launch. Mr Shukla said before the flight that he hopes 'to ignite the curiosity of an entire generation in my country' and drive innovation. Like his crewmates, he plans several outreach events with those back home. 'I truly believe that even though I, as an individual, am travelling to space, this is the journey of 1.4 billion people,' he said. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of four aboard a Dragon Spacecraft lifts off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida (Terry Renna/AP) It was Axiom's fourth chartered flight to the space station since 2022 and Ms Whitson's second time flying as an Axiom crew commander and chaperone. The trip caused her to miss her induction into the US Astronaut Hall of Fame late last month, since she was in quarantine before the flight. Ms Whitson joined Axiom after retiring from Nasa nearly a decade ago and has logged almost two years in orbit over her career. Once opposed to non-traditional station guests, Nasa now throws out the welcome mat, charging for their food and upkeep while insisting that an experienced astronaut accompany them. It is all part of Nasa's push to open space – Moon included – to private businesses. Axiom is among several US companies planning to launch their own space stations in the next few years. The goal is for them to be up and running before the international station comes down in 2031 after more than three decades of operation. Access to space 'is not only for the biggest agencies anymore – space is for everyone', Mr Uznanski-Wisniewski said ahead of lift-off. Shubhanshu Shukla, Tibor Kapu, Peggy Whitson and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski pose for a photo before departing for a launch to the International Space Station (Terry Renna/AP) He repeated the sentiment upon reaching orbit. Hungarians want to 'sit at the same table with the giants', said Mr Kapu. Through this mission 'Hungary gets one step closer to the stars'. They should have flown earlier this year, but their mission was delayed following a switch in SpaceX capsules. The change enabled Nasa's two stuck astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return to Earth in March sooner than planned. The Axiom astronauts faced more launch delays once arriving in Florida. SpaceX had to fix an oxygen leak in its rocket, then Nasa put the crew's visit on indefinite hold while monitoring repairs to longtime air leaks on the Russian side of the space station. Once in orbit, the astronauts radioed messages in their native languages and revealed the name they gave to their brand-new capsule: Grace. 'Good things come to those who wait,' SpaceX told the crew. 'Godspeed to the maiden crew of Grace.' SpaceX chief executive and founder Elon Musk's Falcon rockets launching from Florida and California are considerably smaller than the Starships making test flights out of Texas and, this year, exploding one after the other. Reliable frequent flyers, Falcons have been carrying crews to orbit since 2020. Nasa needs Starship for the Moon, while Mr Musk envisions it for Mars travel.
RTÉ News
19 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Astronauts from India, Poland, Hungary launched on first space station mission
A US commercial mission carrying astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary lifted off to the International Space Station Wednesday, taking people from these countries to space for the first time in decades. NASA retiree turned private astronaut Peggy Whitson was launched on the fifth spaceflight of her career. The astronaut team lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at about 7.30am Irish time, beginning the latest mission organised by Texas-based startup Axiom Space in partnership with Elon Musk's rocket venture SpaceX. Live video showed the towering spacecraft streaking into the night sky over Florida's Atlantic coast trailed by a brilliant yellowish plume of fiery exhaust. It marked the first Crew Dragon flight since Mr Musk briefly threatened to decommission the spacecraft after US President Donald Trump threatened to cancel his government contracts in a high-profile political feud between the two men earlier this month. Axiom 4's autonomously operated Crew Dragon was expected to reach the ISS after a flight of about 28 hours, then dock with the outpost as the two vehicles soar together in orbit some 400km above Earth. If all goes according to plan, the Axiom 4 crew will be welcomed aboard the orbiting space laboratory tomorrow by its seven current resident occupants - three astronauts from the US, one from Japan and three cosmonauts from Russia. Ms Whitson, 65, and her three Axiom 4 crewmates - Shubhanshu Shukla, 39, of India, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, 41, o fPoland, and Tibor Kapu, 33, of Hungary - are slated to spend 14 days aboard the space station conducting microgravity research. The mission stands as the fourth such flight since 2022 arranged by Axiom as the Houston-headquartered company builds on its business of putting astronauts sponsored by private companies and foreign governments into Earth orbit. For India, Poland and Hungary, the launch marked a return to human spaceflight after more than 40 years and the first mission to send astronauts from each of those three countries to the International Space Station. The Axiom 4 participation of Mr Shukla, an Indian air force pilot, is seen by India's own space programme as a kind of precursor to the debut crewed mission of its Gaganyaan orbital spacecraft, planned for 2027. The Axiom 4 crew is led by Ms Whitson, who retired from NASA in 2018 after a pioneering career that included her tenure as the first woman to serve as the US space agency's chief astronaut. She also was the first woman to command an ISS expedition and the first to do so twice. Now a consultant and director of human spaceflight for Axiom, she has logged a career total of 675 days in space, a US record, during three NASA missions and a fourth flight to space as commander of the Axiom 2 mission in 2023. The Axiom 4 mission was previously scheduled for liftoff yesterday before a forecast of unsuitable weather forced a 24-hourpost ponement.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Colossal asteroid could damage thousands of Earth's satellites with ‘bullet speed' rocks if it hits Moon, experts warn
A COLOSSAL asteroid on a collision course with the Moon could damage thousands of satellites and send shrapnel blasting towards Earth, experts have warned. Asteroid 2024 YR4 sparked concern earlier this year with fears of a "city killer" incident if it 3 The asteroid currently has a 4.3 per cent chance of hitting the Moon Credit: Getty 3 Asteroid 2024 YR4 is currently hiding and won't be seen clearly again until 2028 Credit: Getty Fortunately, newer estimates put Earth in the clear - instead the Moon is at risk. Nasa predictions suggest there's a 4.3 per cent Now scientists say there could still consequences that affect us all the same if it does indeed strike the Moon. A direct hit would leave a huge 1km-diameter crater on the lunar surface and send millions of kilograms of debris pelting towards Earth. Read more about asteroids Dr Paul Wiegert from University of Western Ontario, told AFP that the impact on the Moon's surface would be "comparable to a large nuclear explosion in terms of the amount of energy released". "A centimetre-sized rock travelling at tens of thousands of metres per second is a lot like a bullet," he said. Most of the lunar rock would burn up in Earth's atmosphere posing no threat to life on the ground. But some of that material could blast around Earth's orbit, striking satellites and spacecraft. Most read in Science Given the increasing number of satellites in lower Earth orbit, this risks damaging satellites used for communications or navigation. However, there would be some positives too, in the form of a stunning meteor shower. Why Earth's now SAVED from 'city-killer' asteroid YR4- Expert reveals how odds FLIPPED from 1-32 to 'Threat 0' in days The research was conducted by Canadian researchers and presented in a paper that's not currently peer reviewed. "If 2024 YR4 strikes the moon in 2032, it will (statistically speaking) be the largest impact in approximately 5,000 years," the paper warns. "The resulting meteor shower at Earth could be eye-catching." Asteroid 2024 YR4 orbits the sun and is currently too far away to be seen properly by scientists. It's not expected to be visible again until 2028 when experts can reassess the possible impact. 3 HOW NASA ASSESSES ASTEROID DANGERS Explained by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun Nasa uses something called the Torino Impact Hazard Scale to rate asteroids and other objects. The scale goes from zero to 10. Zero - also known as white zone - is defined as: "The likelihood of a collision is zero, or is so low as to be effectively zero. Also applies to small objects such as meteors and bodies that burn up in the atmosphere as well as infrequent meteorite falls that rarely cause damage." At the top end of the scale is 10, which states: "A collision is certain, capable of causing global climatic catastrophe that may threaten the future of civilization as we know it, whether impacting land or ocean. Such events occur on average once per 100,000 years, or less often."
