Latest news with #AxiomSpaceMission-4
Hans India
15-07-2025
- Science
- Hans India
Shubhanshu Shukla, Ax-4 crew-carrying Dragon spacecraft on track, to splashdown today: SpaceX
New Delhi: The Dragon spacecraft carrying IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts, part of the Axiom Space Mission-4 (Ax-4), is on track to reenter Earth's atmosphere and will splashdown on Tuesday, said SpaceX. Shukla, along with fellow astronauts Peggy Whitson (US), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), boarded SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft "Grace" at 3:30 a.m. CT (2 PM IST) on Monday. After an extraordinary stay aboard the orbital laboratory, the Ax-4 crew is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at 3:01 p.m. IST (4:31 AM CT). 'Dragon and the Ax-4 crew are on track to reenter Earth's atmosphere and splash down off the coast of San Diego,' Space X shared in a post on social media platform X. 'Dragon will also announce its arrival with a brief sonic boom prior to splashing down in the Pacific Ocean,' it added. The de-orbit burn is expected to take place at 2:07 pm IST over the Pacific Ocean as the spacecraft re-enters the Earth's atmosphere. Final preparations include detaching the capsule's trunk (at 2:26 pm IST) and orienting the heat shield ahead of atmospheric entry, which will expose the spacecraft to temperatures nearing 1,600 degrees Celsius. Parachutes will deploy in two stages -- first stabilising chutes at about 5.7 km altitude at 2:57 pm IST, followed by the main parachutes at roughly two km before splashdown. During his more than two weeks stay aboard the ISS, Shukla completed over 310 orbits, traversing an astounding 1.3 crore kilometres -- equivalent to travelling 33 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. The crew also witnessed over 300 sunrises and sunsets from the orbital lab. Meanwhile, ISRO on Monday noted that astronaut Shukla has completed all seven microgravity experiments and other planned activities, 'achieving a milestone in the mission'. 'Experiments on Indian strain of tardigrades, myogenesis, sprouting of methi and moong seeds, cyanobacteria, microalgae, crop seeds, and voyager display have been completed as planned,' the national space agency said.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Axiom Space crew names new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft 'Grace' after liftoff to space station
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – Many people have enjoyed that "new car smell," but very few have experienced a new spacecraft smell. On Wednesday, four space explorers from four countries launched on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS), and as the first "Dragon riders" for this vehicle, the Axiom Space Mission-4 (Ax-4) crew selected a name for the spacecraft worthy of spaceflight. SpaceX launched the fourth private spaceflight for Houston company Axiom Space at 2:31 a.m. ET from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft launched about two weeks later than planned due to an ongoing leak investigation on the space station. The Axiom Mission 4 is commanded by Axiom Space's director of human spaceflight and former Nasa astronaut Peggy Whitson and includes Indian Space Research Organization astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, European Space Agency project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, of Poland, and Tibor Kapu, of Hungary. The launch is the first time people from these nations will fly together to the ISS and marks the return of these countries to human spaceflight for the first time in 40 years, according to Axiom Space. Space Station Leak Investigation Continues To Shift Launch Date Of Axiom Space Crew As the first to launch on a new Dragon, the Ax-4 crew were given the honor of naming the vehicle. Whitson announced the newest member of the Dragon fleet is called "Grace." "Grace is more than a name. It reflects the elegance with which we move through space against the backdrop of Earth. It speaks to the refinement of our mission, the harmony of science and spirit, and the unmerited favor we carry with humility. Grace reminds us that spaceflight is not just a feat of engineering, but an act of goodwill —for the benefit of every human, everywhere," Whitson said. New Vera Rubin Observatory Discovers 2,000 Unknown Asteroids Within 10 Hours "And we are not alone. With us travels 'Joy' – a swan, a symbol of beauty, unity, and the shared dreams that lift us beyond our world. Joy inspires us to look outward with wonder and inward with hope," Whitson continued. "Together, Grace and Joy embody the essence of this mission: to explore with purpose, to connect with compassion, and to dream without limits. As we glide through space, may we carry with us the spirit of Grace, the lightness of Joy, and the boundless possibilities that await us." Grace is the fifth Crew Dragon in SpaceX's fleet. The other Dragons were all named during NASA missions, including Endeavour, Freedom, Endurance and Resilience. Grace and her crew are set to dock at the space station around 5 a.m. Thursday. A live webcast of the arrival will begin around 3 a.m. ET. When it happens, the 14-day private mission astronauts will conduct dozens of experiments and scientific research on the orbiting lab. According to Axiom Space, their work on the ISS will include human research, Earth observation, biological and material article source: Axiom Space crew names new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft 'Grace' after liftoff to space station
