Latest news with #AxiomSpaceAx-4
Mint
15-07-2025
- Science
- Mint
Watch LIVE: Shubhanshu Shukla splashes down in Pacific Ocean after historic ISS mission
Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), has made a historic return to Earth with a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego in California. Shubhanshu Shukla touched down on Earth at 3:02 pm (India time) on Tuesday, July 15. Shubhanshu Shukla and his fellow crew members aboard the Dragon spacecraft took over 22 hours to journey back to Earth from the International Space Station. After spending nearly 20 days in space, with 19 onboard the space station as part of the Axiom-4 mission, Shubhanshu Shukla made a proud milestone for India's space journey. Shubhanshu Shukla and the other crew members' return to Earth was also announced. How? With a sonic boom. SpaceX had said earlier in a post on X today that the arrival of the crew, which is aboard its Dragon spacecraft, will be announced with a 'brief sonic boom' ahead of their splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. SpaceX said, 'Dragon and the Axiom Space Ax-4 crew are on track to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and splash down off the coast of San Diego at ~2:31 a.m. PT tomorrow. Dragon will also announce its arrival with a brief sonic boom prior to splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.' The entering into Earth's atmosphere before the touchdown in the Pacific Ocean The Axiom-4 crew was led by Peggy Whitson, 65, who retired from NASA in 2018 after a pioneering career that included becoming the US space agency's first female chief astronaut and the first woman ever to command an ISS expedition. The other members of the Axiom-4 mission crew were Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary – first human spaceflight for them in more than 40 years.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Ax-4 mission departs space station aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon making 1st flight home
The four private visitors to the International Space Station of the Axiom Space Ax-4 mission are headed back to Earth riding home on the newest SpaceX Crew Dragon making its first return home. Former NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space employee Peggy Whitson climbed aboard Crew Dragon Grace early Monday along with customers Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski or Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. They undocked from the station at 7:15 a.m. EDT, and now the quartet have nearly another full day in space before a planned splashdown off the California coast at 5:30 a.m. EDT. Tuesday. They had arrived to the station on June 26 after having launched from Kennedy Space Center one day earlier. It has been the fourth flight for Axiom Space to visit the station, all with the help of SpaceX, which will be bring home a crewed Dragon spacecraft for the 17th time since 2020, although the first time for this newest Dragon, the fifth in the SpaceX fleet. 'Thank you very much for your support. You guys are amazing.' Whitson said to the space station crew after their departure, her voice audibly shaking, adding shortly later as the Dragon drifted farther away. 'Station looks beautiful.' For the 65-year-old Whitson, it means she will have surpassed 695 days in space during her career having flown on three NASA missions and two for Axiom Space, all to the space station. She already held the record for most days in space by any American as well as most days for any woman. She was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame just weeks before the launch. For her three customers, it marks the end of their first spaceflights, and the first time in more than four decades their three countries' governments have sent someone to space. They joined the seven other crew on board the station for a departure ceremony on Sunday. 'We really enjoyed your company,' said Expedition 73 commander and JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi. 'And thank you so much for bringing a lot of joy, excitement, inspiration and other positive ways to make our experience here even better, and your dedication to science and your professionalism definitely marks a new standard for the private astronaut missions.' Whitson said the Ax-4 crew enjoyed their 18 days on board, which was four more than originally planned. They conducted more than 60 experiments during their stay, and are bringing home more than 580 pounds of science and hardware. 'It's always great to work with a bunch of professionals, which you are, but it's even more special to work with folks that have become our friends, even more deeply,' she said. 'And we really appreciate the fact that the camaraderie and the teaching that you guys offered to the crew was really exceptional.' Kapu weighed in on the importance of the mission. 'I think the outcome and the impact of this mission will be much, much greater than the scientific results that we will achieve,' he said. 'So now we will return home, and we will spread the word in our countries that these things are within our reach. These things are possible, even for smaller countries like ours.' The visit by the Ax-4 crew meant that for a time the space station was represented by six countries from six space agencies from three continents. 'Going back from here, I carry with me a lot of memories and the learnings out of this mission that I would try and spread back,' Shukla said. 'But the one thing that really sticks to me is what humanity is capable of. When all of us come together from different parts of the world and work for a common goal or a common objective, it is truly incredible.' --------------
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Shubhanshu Shukla shares mesmerising view of Earth from International Space Station
Image: Axiom Space Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla , the first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS), has shared stunning images of Earth from space, captivating millions across India and beyond. In his latest pictures, Shukla is seen seated at the edge of the ISS's iconic 7-windowed Cupola Module , with the vast, blue planet Earth majestically visible in the background. These panoramic views highlight the beauty of our home planet, inspiring pride and a renewed sense of global unity. Shukla's journey aboard the ISS as part of the Axiom-4 mission marks a historic milestone for India's space ambitions. Shubhashu Shukla's historic mission and arrival at ISS Shubhanshu Shukla embarked on the Axiom Space Ax-4 mission , launching aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA 's Kennedy Space Center on June 25, 2025. After a 28-hour journey, the crew, including veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, Polish scientist Slawosz Uznanski, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu, successfully docked with the ISS on June 26. Shukla serves as the mission pilot, contributing to scientific research and technology demonstrations during the 14-day mission. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo The iconic Cupola Module: A window to Earth The Cupola Module, with its seven windows, offers astronauts an unparalleled panoramic view of Earth and space. Shukla's photographs from this vantage point reveal breathtaking scenes of continents, oceans, and weather patterns, emphasizing the planet's interconnectedness. His images have been widely shared on social media platforms, including the Indian government's official X account (formerly Twitter), where they have garnered immense admiration and pride. Scientific endeavors and outreach Beyond capturing mesmerizing visuals, Shukla is actively engaged in critical scientific investigations aboard the ISS. One key experiment focuses on myogenesis, studying how microgravity accelerates muscle atrophy — a challenge for long-duration spaceflight. The data collected is vital for future missions deeper into space and for understanding muscle degeneration on Earth. Alongside research, Shukla participates in global outreach, inspiring the next generation of scientists and explorers in India and worldwide. A message of unity from space In conversations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shukla described seeing India from space as a profound experience, noting that the country appeared "much larger and grander" than on any map. He remarked on the absence of visible borders from orbit, expressing a powerful sense of oneness and shared humanity. This perspective resonates deeply as India celebrates its growing presence in the international space community. National pride and inspiration The release of Shukla's spaceborne photographs has sparked widespread excitement across India. Social media is abuzz with admiration for the astronaut's achievement and the spectacular views he has shared. His journey symbolizes a new era for Indian space exploration, inspiring millions to dream beyond Earth's boundaries and fostering a spirit of scientific curiosity and national pride.
Miami Herald
26-06-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
SpaceX Crew Dragon with 4 Axiom Space astronauts docks with space station
The International Space Station got more international Thursday morning with the arrival of astronauts from three countries making their first visit to the orbiting laboratory aboard the private Axiom Space Ax-4 mission flying on a SpaceX Crew Dragon. Commanding the visiting crew is Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space employee who is making her fifth trip to the station. She's leading India's Shubhanshu Shukla, Poland's Sławosz Uznański and Hungary's Tibor Kapu who will stay on board for about two weeks. The quartet launched from Kennedy Space Center early Wednesday making a 28-hour approach to the station docking at 6:31 a.m. It's the debut visit for the new Dragon spacecraft named Grace as it docked to the space-facing Zenith side of the Harmony port joining Crew Dragon Endurance that has been docked with the station since its arrival with Crew-10 in March. "Grace is happy to be on Harmony," said Ax-4 commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space employee who is making her fifth visit to the station. "We cannot wait to open the hatch and give you guys a hug. We'll see you soon," said NASA's Nichole Ayers, one of the Crew-10 crew that is now part of Expedition 73 from on board the station. "From Houston, welcome aboard the International Space Station," came the call out from mission control. "It's an honor to have you join our outpost of international cooperation and exploration." "We are honored to be here," Whitson replied. The Ax-4 crew made it out of their spacecraft just before 8:30 a.m. welcomed by the seven members of Expedition 73. Welcome remarks are expected at 9:35 a.m. once the hatch is opened and the four Ax-4 crew get on board. The addition of India, Poland and Hungary grows the number of countries to 26 that have visited the space station, which has hosted continuous crews since November 2000. Since construction first began in 1998, 288 people have now flown to the station. Axiom Space has been responsible for several countries from that growing list having now flown 14 customers to the station representing 11 countries. With the four members of Crew-10 as well as three who flew to the station on a Soyuz spacecraft in April, the station now has 11 people on board. That includes three NASA astronauts, three Roscosmos cosmonauts and one JAXA astronaut from Japan. For Whitson, this is her second visit to the station as an Axiom employee following her three visits as a NASA astronaut. She already held the record for any American and any woman for number of days spent in space, a tally that has now hit 676 and expected to surpass 690 days before the Ax-4 crew returns to Earth. Before then, the crew is slated to perform more than 60 science and technology experiments for 31 countries. "You really have to hit the ground running," said fellow former NASA astronaut and Axiom employee Michael López-Alegría, who was on the station during the Ax-1 and Ax-3 missions. "You've got, in this case, 14 days to get a lot of stuff done. Every detail is preprogrammed by the teams on the ground, working with NASA, and we really have an effort to try to maintain that pace." His advice to the new visitors was to stay focused, but not get overwhelmed. "You have a huge responsibility. Your family, your colleagues, your space agencies, your nations are really counting on you, but at the same time, try to enjoy it. Try to really soak this in this is generally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." ------------- Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Axiom Space back on track for possible Space Coast launch next week
A leak in space and a leak on Earth have both been taken care of clearing the way for the next human spaceflight from the Space Coast. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped with a new Crew Dragon spacecraft looks to bring the four private astronauts on the Axiom Space Ax-4 mission on a trip to the International Space Station as early as Thursday morning from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A during a launch window that runs from 4:45-5:05 a.m. The crew faced a series of delays already last week. A planned Monday launch was called off by weather, and a Tuesday attempt was delayed so SpaceX could fix a liquid oxygen leak found in the rocket's first-stage booster. While SpaceX retested its booster on Thursday with no leak detected, NASA announced it would have to delay the launch because of recent repairs to a years-old leak on the Russian side of the space station that needed to be monitored. 'Following the most-recent repair, pressure in the transfer tunnel has been stable,' reads an update from NASA released Saturday. 'Previously, pressure in this area would have dropped. This could indicate the small leaks have been sealed.' NASA said Roscosmos was still monitoring the pressure levels, but had allowed SpaceX and Axiom Space to target a new earliest launch opportunity. The mission would send former NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space employee Peggy Whitson on her fifth trip to space. She is commanding three customers from three countries that have not flown astronauts in more than four decades. In the role of pilot is India's Shubhanshu Shukla while both Sławosz Uznański of Poland, a European Space Agency project astronaut, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary are mission specialists. The quartet look to dock with the space station a day after launch for about a two-week stay on what would be the fourth visit by Axiom Space, and second commanded by Whitson. She previously flew three missions with NASA and already has a combined 675 days spent in space, which is both an American record as well as the record for women. The mission was originally targeting a 2024 launch, but has faced a series of delays including having to give up their planned ride, the Crew Dragon Endurance, to NASA's Crew-10 mission that flew in March. The tradeoff is they will fly on SpaceX's fifth and what's planned to be SpaceX's final Crew Dragon capsule, and that gives them the traditional honor of naming it once it reaches orbit. In addition to Endurance, the other Dragon capsules were named Endeavour, Resilience and Freedom. This marks the third human spaceflight from the Space Coast this year following the Crew-10 mission, whose astronauts remain on the space station to welcome Ax-4, and the private polar orbital Fram2 mission, which was also in March. Since its first human spaceflight in 2020, SpaceX has flown its four existing Crew Dragon spacecraft 17 times carrying 64 humans to space.
