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India Today
2 days ago
- Science
- India Today
Ax-4 crew remains upbeat, says Commander Whitson as launch is delayed
The Ax-4 crew remains upbeat despite another delay in their much-anticipated mission to the International Space Station, Mission Commander and former NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson wrote on X on Wednesday. The latest postponement comes after a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak was discovered during post-static fire inspections of the Falcon 9 booster. The rocket is set to carry Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla into orbit. advertisementPeggy Whitson, in a statement posted on social media, said setbacks and delays are a normal part of spaceflight. "Our Ax-4 crew remains upbeat and looking forward to a safe and successful flight to the Space Station," she in the day, SpaceX announced it was standing down from the June 11 launch date to allow teams additional time to address the LOx issue. Once repairs are complete and pending range availability, SpaceX will announce a revised schedule. The launch, operated by Houston-based Axiom Space, had initially been slated for May 29 but has faced multiple delays due to weather and technical concerns. The current hold extends that timeline, even as mission managers work toward ensuring safety and operational NASA has outlined a range of potential launch windows for the Ax-4 mission, offering some flexibility in the timeline. According to Dana Weigel, Manager of NASA's International Space Station Programme, launch opportunities remain open through June 30, with additional options available in mid-July following a temporary operational pause. The schedule is also dependent on planned traffic at the ISS, including the undocking of Russia's Progress cargo vehicle and the arrival of another spacecraft in early mission is particularly significant for India, as it marks a historic milestone with Shubhanshu Shukla becoming the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station. A decorated test pilot with over 2,000 hours of flight experience, Shukla will take part in scientific research aboard the ISS during the mission's planned 10-day participation highlights India's growing ambitions in human spaceflight and aligns with national efforts to boost interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among younger SpaceX continues to troubleshoot the rocket issue and coordinate with NASA, the Ax-4 mission holds strong symbolic value for both international collaboration and India's expanding role in space exploration.
India Today
2 days ago
- Science
- India Today
When will Ax-4 Mission with India's Shubhanshu Shukla launch?
As SpaceX continues to look at the fuel leak issue with the Falcon-9 rocket designated tocarry astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to space, Nasa has outlined potential launch windows for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) in the coming to Dana Weigel, Manager of NASA's International Space Station Programme, launch opportunities are available 'all the way to June 30,' with additional slots opening in mid-July after brief operational mission's schedule depends on coordinating traffic at the ISS, where Russia's Progress cargo spacecraft will undock and a new vehicle will dock in early July. Ax-4 crew is ready to launch. (Photo: Axiom) This activity, along with periods of 'high solar beta' — a phase where the sun's angle relative to the ISS complicates spacecraft temperature management — necessitates a temporary halt to had in a press conference emphasised that 'plenty of opportunities' remain in the second week of July, ensuring flexibility for Ax-4's far, SpaceX is yet to give any details on the next launch attempt. The mission which was supposed to launch on May 29 has seen repeated delays until Wednesday due to weather and technical operated by Houston-based Axiom Space, marks a historic milestone as Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS. The mission shows India's expanding role in global space exploration, following Shukla's selection for India's Gaganyaan program and his training in Russia and India. The flight also highlights Nasa's collaboration with international and commercial partners to optimise ISS logistics, balancing government and private India, Ax-4 represents a strategic leap toward its ambitions in human spaceflight. Shukla, a seasoned test pilot with over 2,000 flying hours, will contribute to microgravity research during his 10-day ISS stay. His participation aligns with India's broader goals of establishing a sustained human presence in space and fostering public interest in STEM Axiom Space finalizes preparations, all eyes are on the evolving launch timeline. Successful completion of Ax-4 will not only advance India's space legacy but also reinforce the ISS as a hub for global cooperation in an era increasingly defined by commercial space InTrending Reel
