Latest news with #AxiomSpaceMission4
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
After the SpaceX rocket launch, here's how to see the booster land at Cape Canaveral SFS
With the crew of Axiom Space Mission 4 set to lift off at 8 a.m. June 11 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center pad 39A, those watching from the Space Coast are in for a treat as SpaceX plans to return its booster on land. Common in missions traveling to the International Space Station, just more than eight minutes after launch, the Falcon 9's booster will come barreling back to Cape Canaveral Landing Zone 1, triggering a sonic boom. With the remaining booster fuel enough to allow a land return, it eliminates the need for SpaceX to land the booster on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. It's a win for all, as it brings the booster back to SpaceX right away, and gives viewers a glimpse of an event that was science fiction just a decade ago. What to know about the Ax-4 mission: Doubleheader launch: Ax-4 astronauts to launch on SpaceX rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center So how can you watch the SpaceX booster return? Afterall, it's easy to hear the resulting sonic boom but where do you look to see the rocket descend toward Cape Canaveral. The SpaceX Falcon 9 booster (first stage) will return to Cape Canaveral Landing Zone 1, which is located just southeast of NASA's Kennedy Space Center pad 39A. For reference, the landing zones are in the area just north of the Cape Canaveral lighthouse. No matter your location, keep your eyes more to the east after liftoff. Local beaches: A great place to see the booster return is from either Cape Canaveral or Cocoa Beach, where there is a clear view of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on the northern horizon. Jetty Park: Jetty Park is also a great place to watch the booster return, as well as the launch. From the jetty, a clear view to the north is provided. This is also the closet the public can get to the booster return site. Take note that Jetty Park requires either a pass or daily fee to enter. The return of the booster will be not instantaneous after the launch, so do not leave or look away. Keep in mind that weather conditions play a part in exactly what will be visible. In total, it takes just over eight minutes to see the booster return. Stage separation, which is where the rocket's upper stage and booster separate, is visible a bit after liftoff. However, while the upper stage may remain viable, the booster can vanish for a bit as it begins descending to Earth. While the booster descends, a short burn working to slow the booster may be visible to spectators. After this, the booster will vanish again for a bit. As the booster comes in for a landing, the glowing and consistent landing burn will be visible to those watching. This landing burn does not last long, but is unmistakable. At this point, there will be a view of the booster as it slowly descends vertically toward Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. When is the next Florida launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral The booster will descend out of view as it lands, but the show is not over. Shortly afterward, a loud sonic boom will sound throughout the area. This thunderous sound is created due to the booster's return speed being faster than sound. As light travels faster than sound, those on the ground see the booster come back first before the sound travels to their location. This phenomena is the same reason we see lightning before hearing the thunder. Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@ or on X: @brookeofstars. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Here's how to watch the SpaceX rocket booster land at Cape Canaveral
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
What to know: 1st of back-to-back launch days to see SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral
Get ready for back-to-back launch days, as two SpaceX rocket launches are planned approximately 24-hours from each other — and the second will be carrying astronauts. Up first this morning will be the launch of the latest batch of SpaceX Starlink satellites, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Starlink 12-24 mission will lift off between 9:03 a.m. to 1:34 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10, from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. SpaceX has yet to provide an exact time for this launch, however the company usually launches in the beginning of the launch window. Weather at the Cape and the booster landing site, which will be out on a SpaceX drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, will play a role in timing. No Space Coast sonic booms will be heard, as the first stage from this Starlink mission will land on the SpaceX drone ship. This Starlink launch will travel southeast. Then in less than 24-hours, get ready for another launch. The crewed launch of Axiom Space Mission 4 will lift off no earlier than 8 a.m. on June 11. Originally set to lift off this morning, the mission was delayed due to forecasted poor conditions in the accent corridor. The astronaut crew of Axiom Space Mission 4 (Ax-4) will be catching up with the International Space Station, therefore the launch has an instantaneous launch window at 8 a.m. from NASA's Kennedy Space Center pad 39A. The mission is the fourth crew flying for the private company, Axiom Space. Commanding this mission is former NASA astronaut, and record-breaking space flier, Peggy Whitson. Joining Whitson are Shubhanshu Shukla from India, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Check back for live updates beginning 90 minutes prior to lift off on this page. When is the next Florida launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral 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: Double launch days: SpaceX rocket launch in Florida this morning
Hans India
2 days ago
- Science
- Hans India
IAF asks Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to ‘touch the sky with glory'
Ahead of the Axiom Space Mission 4, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday wished Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, to 'touch the sky with glory'. With the success of the flight, Shukla will become the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS). He will also be the second to go to space after Rakesh Sharma flew to space station Salyut 7 in 1984. The US-based Axiom Space is scheduled to carry Shukla along with three others, to the ISS from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 11 at 8 a.m. ET (5.30 p.m. IST). The mission was initially scheduled for launch on May 29, but was later deferred to June 8 and then June 10. 'As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to embark on the Axiom-4 space mission tomorrow, the Chief of the Air Staff and all Air Warriors of IAF wish him and the entire crew of Axiom-4 all the best for a safe and successful trip to the International Space Station,' the Indian Air Force - Media Co-ordination Centre, shared in a post on social media platform X. 'This will add a new chapter to the Indian Space Odyssey. Touch the sky with glory!' the post added. Shukla will pilot the mission alongside Commander Peggy Whitson from the US. Other crew members include mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). Air Vice Marshal Sanjay Bhatnagar VM VSM (Retd) called Shukla an inspiration. The IAF officer is the youngest astronaut-designate under India's Gaganyaan mission -- the country's first human spaceflight mission. 'Highly inspiring story of IAF Gp Capt Shubanshu Shukla, Mission Pilot for Axiom 4,' Bhatnagar wrote on X. Ahead of his much-awaited lift-off, his family called it a moment of "immense pride" for the nation as well as for his loved ones. "We are definitely feeling proud; our son has done something that brings pride in itself...", Shukla's mother told IANS from Lucknow. Shukla's hometown is also celebrating with posters and car stickers. Cutouts are also being displayed proudly at his residence. 'From the land of Lord Shri Ram to space! Heartiest congratulations to Uttar Pradesh's son, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is now going to create history – he will set out on a journey to space carrying the dreams of India. This is a proud moment for every Indian and every family of Uttar Pradesh,' Yogi Adityanath, UP Chief Minister said earlier on X. After reaching the ISS, the Group Captain is expected to conduct exclusive food and nutrition-related experiments. The experiments -- developed under a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from NASA -- aim to pioneer space nutrition and self-sustaining life support systems vital for future long-duration space travel He will also 'study physical, cognitive and physiological responses in space, as also the cognitive impact of continuous electronic displays in microgravity,' said Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Jitendra Singh.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Back-to-back launch: Ax-4 astronauts to launch on SpaceX rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center
This article has been updated to include the postponement of the Axiom Space Mission 4 launch. What could have been a doubleheader launch day is now just a possible back-to-back launch day. With reported bad weather in the rocket's accent corridor, the Axiom Mission 4 Crew launch was pushed back 24 hours. The new launch target from pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center is now no earlier than 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 11. The mission marks a return to spaceflight for three countries who have astronauts onboard and a return to the International Space Station for one of NASA's most well-traveled former astronauts. Launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the international crew of four astronauts will travel to the ISS in a brand new SpaceX Dragon. Meanwhile, those on the Space Coast will be treated to a booster return to Cape Canaveral, followed by a sonic boom. Tuesday's other planned launch is still on track for that day, according to a Federal Aviation Administration advisory. SpaceX will launch another batch of broadband satellites for the ever-expanding Starlink constellation in low-Earth orbit from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. That launch window runs from 9:03 a.m. to 1:34 p.m. on June 10. The Axiom Mission 4 will be commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. Whitson currently holds the record for most time spent in space by an American. Whitson retired from NASA in 2018, but wasn't yet finished with space travel. In 2022, she brought her expertise to Axiom Space, flying on the Axiom Mission 2 in 2023. Ahead of this flight, she has 675 days in orbit racked up. On May 31, Whitson was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame as she was preparing for this flight. Joining Whitson are Shubhanshu Shukla from India, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. "Ax-4 represents another important step forward in the evolution of commercial spaceflight and international collaboration in low Earth orbit," Whitson said during a June 3 press briefing. "Each mission we fly builds on the last, expanding our capabilities and deepening our understanding of how we can sustainably live and work in space." This mission marks the fourth crewed space flight of Axiom Space, a private company which is working with NASA to build a space station that will attach to the current ISS and allow for a transition before the ISS is decommissioned in 2030. SpaceX is currently contracted to safely deorbit the aging ISS. For reference, the earliest modules of the ISS have been in orbit since 1998, and it has been continuously inhabited since 2000. As with the ISS, the Axiom Station is intended as an international effort, something also carried over in Axiom missions. As for Axiom Mission 4, this international collaboration goes a step further. It marks the return of three countries to orbit for the first time in more than 40 years: Hungary, India, and Poland. In four decades, there have not been government-sponsored astronauts representing these countries. When is the next Florida rocket launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral These astronauts will be busy. During their two week stay onboard the ISS, the crew plans 60 scientific experiments. "We'll be conducting research that spans biology, material, and physical sciences, as well as technology demonstrations," said Whitson. Two of these experiments will look at human health, including research into diabetes and inhibiting growth of cancer cells. The astronauts will also be sharing their experience with students around the world, and for Whitson, this is personal. "Since I was inspired to be a space explorer as a kid at the age nine, I feel strongly about the importance of sharing that spark with the next generation of explorers," she said. "I believe that space has a unique way of bringing people together, and I'm proud to be a part of a mission that reflects that spirit." Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@ or on X: @brookeofstars. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Back-to-back launches: Ax-4 astronauts to launch on SpaceX rocket from Florida
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Business Standard
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Shubhanshu Shukla's ISS launch on Axiom Mission 4 rescheduled to 10 June
The Axiom Space Mission 4 to the International Space Station (ISS), carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, has been rescheduled for 10 June, an Axiom Space spokesperson said on Tuesday. The mission was originally scheduled for 29 May and was subsequently shifted to 8 June before the latest change. The new date was confirmed owing to operational adjustments and ongoing quarantine protocols. The Ax-4 crew is scheduled to remain aboard the ISS for two weeks. Where to watch Axiom Mission 4 live Axiom Space has announced that the mission will be broadcast live from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on 10 June at 8:22 a.m. EDT (3:45 p.m. IST). The launch is scheduled for 5:52 p.m. 'The #Ax4 crew is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on June 10 at 8:22 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at @NASAKennedy. Tune in for the launch broadcast starting at 6:15 a.m. EDT,' Axiom Space posted on X. 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. Tune in for the launch broadcast starting at 6:15 AM EDT. — Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) June 3, 2025 Who is Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla? Born on 10 October 1985 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shubhanshu Shukla is an Indian Air Force test pilot and ISRO astronaut. He studied at City Montessori School before joining the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2006. A milestone moment for Indian human spaceflight Group Captain Shukla is set to become the first Indian to fly to the International Space Station. He will serve as the pilot of Axiom Mission 4, also referred to as Ax-4. The mission marks India's return to human spaceflight after four decades, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's historic space journey aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.
