Latest news with #Axiom
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Axiom Space Ax-4 will launch with former NASA astronaut, a swan, and new SpaceX Dragon
A week away from their private mission to the International Space Station, four astronauts talked to the media from quarantine on June 3, showing off a plush toy they will be bringing with them into space. It's a swan named Joy, which has special significance to this Axiom crew, made up of astronauts from the United States, India, Poland and Hungary. "The swan is rich in cultural symbolism. (It) stands for wisdom in India, resilience in Poland, and grace in Hungry," said Mission commander and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. The four astronauts sat in front of the camera from quarantine in Florida to talk about their mission onboard a new SpaceX Dragon , which will launch no earlier than 8:22 a.m. June 10. The swan, Whitson said, symbolizes "grace and elegance." But it's more than just a fun companion to take in the new Dragon, it will also "signal our arrival in microgravity shortly after launch" signifying the crew has reached orbit. Organized by Axiom Space in partnership with NASA, the international crew is set to liftoff on an approximately two week mission to the space station. While the crew plans about 60 scientific experiments, the Axiom missions are also aimed at advancing the company's goals of building a space station that will attach to the ISS before its planned 2030 retirement. NASA plans to shift low Earth orbit activities to contracts with private space companies, and Axiom is one of the companies paving the way with planned Axiom Station. "For me, returning to space is always a special experience," Whitson said during the June 3 press briefing. "Every mission is different. Every crew brings something new to the table." Whitson said it was a joy to work with her fellow three crew members: Shubhanshu Shukla, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Tibor Kapu. As for Joy, the swan may turn out to be even more than just a zero-g indicator, the crew suggested. It is noteworthy that the Axiom Mission 4 will be flying on a brand new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, and it's tradition that the first crew to fly in a spacecraft gets to name it. This Dragon was originally set to ferry NASA's Crew-10 to the ISS back in March, but technical delays forced NASA and SpaceX to fly Crew-10 on another Dragon spacecraft. "The reason we selected this one may become more obvious once you hear the name of the vehicle," Whitson said with a laugh when questioned about the swan. The exact name of the spacecraft has yet to be revealed, but it's expected to be announced soon. SpaceX currently has four other Crew Dragon spacecrafts in rotation: Freedom, Endeavour, Resilience, and Endurance. It was Hungarian crew member, Kapu, who came up with the name for the swan. "We are focused, we are committed, but above all, we are joyful," said Kapu. "And joy is a sign of trust, resilience, and in my mind, friendship." Kapu spoke of swans flying over Lake Balaton in Hungry. "Now one will soar a little bit higher," he said. With the mission now set to lift off no earlier than June 10 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A, here's a look at the multinational crew flying to the ISS. The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) will be Axiom Space's fourth astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The company's first mission, Axiom Mission 1, flew to the ISS in April of 2022. The last mission, Axiom Mission 3, flew to the ISS in January 2024. The crew of four will launch atop a Falcon 9 rocket. The crew consists of: Whitson, who is a former NASA astronaut and only crew member who has flown to space. Whitson also served as commander on Axiom Mission 2 in 2023. Whitson holds title of most time accumulated in space by an American. She was recently inducted to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India. India is currently creating its own human spaceflight program, with plans for two crewed and six uncrewed launches by 2028. Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland. He will be the first Polish astronaut to visit the ISS. Mission Specialist Kapu from Hungary. Kapu will be the second Hungarian to fly to space, and the first to visit the ISS. When is the next launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral The mission marks the first government-sponsored spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary in more than 40 years. For this reason, it is stated to 'realize the return' to spaceflight for these countries. The crew will carry 60 scientific studies from 31 countries to the ISS. These Axiom astronaut missions are also working to pave the way for Axiom's planned space station. The first module is planned for attachment in 2027. The plan is for NASA to transition to the Axiom Station, and have SpaceX safely deorbit the aging ISS. The earliest parts of the ISS have been in orbit since 1998. A launch date for the first module of the Axiom Station has yet to be announced. Be sure to follow the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team for the latest on Axiom Mission 4. Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@ or on X: @brookeofstars. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Ax-4 astronauts reveal swan, tease name of new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Shukla-piloted Axiom-4 launch to ISS now on June 10; Indian astronaut says ‘even stars are attainable, Jai Hind'
Indian astronaut-designate Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla NEW DELHI: The launch of the Axiom mission, which will carry Indian astronaut-designate Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station, has been postponed to June 10, it was announced on Tuesday. 'The Ax4 crew is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on June 10 at 8:22 AM EDT from Launch Complex 39A at NASAKennedy,' Axiom Space posted on X. The mission, part of Axiom Space's Ax-4 programme, was originally slated for take-off on May 29 and then rescheduled for June 8, but operational adjustments and quarantine protocols have now led to the launch date being pushed to June 10. During a virtual press conference, Shukla said the Ax-4 crew will interact with school students, educators and members of the Indian space industry. 'For the people of India, this mission is a milestone and I request India to pray for its success. Even stars are attainable, Jai Hind,' he said, adding that he would be carrying Indian delicacies such as mango nectar, moong dal halwa and carrot halwa on the space flight. PM Narendra Modi is expected to interact with the Ax-4 crew during their 14-day stay at the ISS. 'We will have one with an Indian VVIP,' Shukla said to a question on interaction with the PM from space. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 180k traders trust IC Markets for CFD trading | Sign up today IC Markets Learn More Undo Shukla, who will serve as the mission's pilot, is set to make history as the first Indian to visit the ISS and only the second Indian in space—following Rakesh Sharma's iconic 1984 mission. The Ax-4 crew includes mission commander Peggy Whitson, a veteran Nasa astronaut, and specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Shukla will be the second Indian to travel to space four decades after Rakesh Sharma's iconic spaceflight onboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. On Tuesday, space minister Jitendra Singh announced that Group Capt Shukla will study physical, cognitive and physiological responses in space, as well as the impact of utilising continuous electronic displays in microgravity, an important issue for future long-duration space missions. Further, Shukla's research will focus on skeletal muscle dysfunction in space and the evaluation of therapeutic strategies to counter these effects. The minister shared that the astronaut-designate will also carry out experiments on the revival, survival, and reproduction of extremophiles such as Tardigrades. These micro-organisms, known for their resilience in extreme conditions, will help advance scientific understanding of the sustainability of life beyond Earth. Speaking on India's first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, Singh said its trial phases are currently under way, and the mission is scheduled for early 2027. Such ventures will be game-changers for India's space ecosystem, allowing the country to become truly Atmanirbhar in the domain. He highlighted that India's space economy is projected to grow five-fold from $8 billion to $44 billion in the near future.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Start of hurricane season sees SpaceX rocket launch from Florida ahead of weather system
A loud, sustained rumble shook the Space Coast during the first hour of Tuesday − and it wasn't thunder. The loud rumble was a SpaceX rocket taking off on the latest Starlink delivery mission. The liftoff occurred on time at 12:43 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 40, despite weather lingering off shore. With hurricane season officially started, the first bit of activity is already seen. However, the National Hurricane Center has predicted this system offshore has a low chance of turning into the season's first hurricane. "Monday evening 6/2: A non-tropical area of low pressure is forecast to form near or offshore of the southeastern U.S. coast within the next 2 to 3 days. The system has a low chance of formation later this week while moving northeastward at 10 to 15 mph," the National Hurricane Center wrote in a May 2 post on X (formerly Twitter). Those hazy conditions over Cape Canaveral provided not just acoustics for the rocket's accent and stage separation, but a murky filter over the glowing rocket. When is the next Florida rocket launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral The payload of this mission was the latest batch of 23 of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites. These satellites provide internet to customers in the most remote areas on Earth. It was the 21st launch for the first stage, also known as the booster. To date, SpaceX's record for a booster is 28 flights, as seen during a launch last month. Previous missions for this well-flown booster include: 13 other Starlink missions, NASA's Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, Intelsat G-37, NG-20, and TD7. Eight-and-a-half minutes past the lift off, the booster came in for its 21st landing on the SpaceX drone ship Just Read the Instructions, which was stationed out on the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, no Florida sonic booms were heard. Be sure to follow the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team for the latest from Cape Canaveral. Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@ or on X: @brookeofstars. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX rocket launches from Florida as weather system forms offshore
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jared Isaacman no longer in running for NASA Administrator role, per White House
(This article has been updated to include a statement by Isaacman released to the public and a Truth Social post from President Trump.) With the new NASA budget proposal that includes deep cuts heading to Congress and NASA still without a leader, a surprise twist came May 31: Jared Isaacman was being dropped as President Trump's choice to become the next NASA administrator. Isaacman's confirmation as the head of NASA had been expected Monday. But instead the White House announced Isaacman was no longer in the running. Trump said on Truth Social that he will propose a new nominee. "After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "I will soon announce a new Nominee who will be Mission aligned, and put America First in Space." The associations that Trump was referring to appeared to be political donations that Isaacman had given in the past to Democrats, according to media reports. Back on April 30, Isaacman, the businessman-turned-SpaceX astronaut was voted favorably on by a Senate committee with a vote of 19-9, moving his confirmation ahead for a final vote. He'd appeared to have won the support of many in the space community and in Congress. "The Trump Administration offered an unconventional and inspired choice in Jared Isaacman to lead NASA forward. It is unfortunate that the nomination was rescinded so late in the process. NASA has already been suffering from lack of leadership at the top since the start of the second Trump Administration," said Laura Forczyk, a space consultant. Many space industry leaders and astronauts argued that Isaacman would bring the right vision to NASA at a time when the space agency faces a challenge from China for supremacy in space. His close association with SpaceX's Elon Musk prompted some questions but didn't seem to be a stumbling block. When is the next launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral This sudden shakeup in who Trump wants to lead NASA comes as the NASA budget looks headed toward some deep cuts. The White House's budget proposal calls for slashing NASA science, and cancelling the SLS moon rocket after the Artemis III mission as well as dropping the Gateway lunar space station. On the night of May 31, Isaacman released a statement on X (formerly Twitter), in which he thanked President Trump and the Senate. Isaacman said America and NASA deserve a dedicated NASA Administrator. "The past six months have been enlightening and, honestly, a bit thrilling," Isaacman wrote. "I have gained a much deeper appreciation for the complexities of government and the weight our political leaders carry." He added: "I have not flown my last mission — whatever form that may ultimately take — but I remain incredibly optimistic that humanity's greatest spacefaring days lie ahead." Isaacman has been to space twice under his private SpaceX-based spaceflight ventures, Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn. Both missions flew on SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets and Dragon capsules. The most recent expedition drew plenty of headlines in September 2024 when Isaacman flew with an all-civilian crew of amateur spacefarers in a SpaceX Dragon − two of whom were SpaceX employees. During the mission, known as Polaris Dawn, the four-member crew ascended to 870 miles above Earth's surface – higher than any crewed vehicle has traveled since NASA's Apollo era ended in the 1970s. Two days into the mission, they became the first non-government astronauts to complete a spacewalk when both Isaacman and crew member Sarah Gillis exited the Dragon capsule separately for about 10 minutes each to take in the endless black expanse of outer space. The purpose of the spacewalk was to test the SpaceX spacesuit, making it the first spacewalk by a private company. Isaacman being dropped as Trump's proposed nominee came a day after Musk stood in the Oval Office with Trump to announce that he was stepping back from his intense work leading the Department of Government Efficiency. While Musk has come under heavy criticism, Trump continued to speak highly of the billionaire. Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@ or on X: @brookeofstars. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Jared Isaacman dropped by White House as choice to be NASA Administrator
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
What to know: SpaceX rocket launch from Cape Canaveral set for overnight
SpaceX will try again tonight to launch the Falcon 9 rocket that scrubbed early Monday morning. The new liftoff time is set for 12:42 a.m. Tuesday, June 3. The launch will be from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 40. The payload is latest batch of Starlink internet satellites, which is being referred to as Starlink 12-19. SpaceX did not provide an official reason for the early Monday scrub. The 45th Weather Squadron predicted a 65% chance of favorable conditions for tonight's launch attempt. According to Space Launch Delta 45, the rocket will travel on an eastern trajectory upon liftoff. This is a rare occasion as Starlink launches typically fly southeast or northeast. When is the next Florida rocket launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral No middle-of-the-night sonic booms will be heard on the Space Coast, as the rocket's first stage will land on a SpaceX drone ship stationed out on the Atlantic Ocean. Check back beginning 90 minutes prior to liftoff for live updates on this page. Countdown Timer Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@ or on X: @brookeofstars. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: What to know: SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral to occur overnight
