Spaceship carrying astronauts from India, Poland, Hungary, docks with ISS
Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4, lifted off early Wednesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a brand-new SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule riding a Falcon 9 rocket.
Onboard are pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India; mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary; and Commander Peggy Whitson of the United States, a former NASA astronaut now with Axiom Space, which organizes private spaceflights.
The capsule, the fifth and final Dragon in the SpaceX fleet, was christened "Grace" after reaching orbit.
It made "soft capture" with the orbital lab Thursday at 6:31 am Eastern Time (1031 GMT).
"We are honored to be here, thank you," Whitson said over a live stream of the docking.
The crew will complete docking procedures and spend about 14 days aboard the station, conducting some 60 experiments -- including studies on microalgae, sprouting salad seeds, and the hardiness of microscopic tardigrades in space.
The last time India, Poland or Hungary sent people to space, their current crop of astronauts had not yet been born -- and back then they were called cosmonauts, as they all flew on Soviet missions before the fall of the Iron Curtain.
Shukla is the first Indian to reach space since Rakesh Sharma, who flew to the Salyut 7 station in 1984 as part of an Indo-Soviet mission.
India's space agency, ISRO, sees this flight as a key step toward its first independent crewed mission, slated for 2027 under the Gaganyaan ("sky craft") program.
"What a fantastic ride," Shukla said in Hindi after liftoff. "This isn't just the start of my journey to the International Space Station -- it's the beginning of India's human space program."
Each country is funding its astronaut's seat.
Poland has spent 65 million euros for its astronaut's flight, according to the Polish Space Agency. Hungary announced a $100 million deal with Axiom in 2022, according to spacenews.com, while India has not officially commented.
The Ax-4 launch comes after technical issues delayed the mission, originally slated for early June.
It also follows an online spat between US President Donald Trump and SpaceX chief Elon Musk, the world's richest person and, until recently, Trump's ally and advisor.
Trump threatened to yank SpaceX's federal contracts -- worth tens of billions of dollars -- prompting Musk to threaten an early retirement of Dragon, the only US spacecraft currently certified to carry astronauts to the ISS.
Musk walked back the threat a few hours later and in the days that followed continued to deescalate, stating on X that he had gone "too far."
Any falling out between SpaceX and the US government would be massively disruptive, given NASA and the Pentagon's reliance on Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy to send up crew, cargo, satellites and probes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sustainability Times
10 hours ago
- Sustainability Times
'A New Monster From the Abyss': Scientists Stunned as Unknown Deep-Sea Predator Emerges From Earth's Darkest Depths
IN A NUTSHELL 🌊 The Atacama Trench is a deep-sea region off the coast of Peru and Chile, home to unique marine life. is a deep-sea region off the coast of Peru and Chile, home to unique marine life. 🔬 Scientists discovered a new crustacean species named Dulcibella camanchaca , highlighting the trench's biodiversity. , highlighting the trench's biodiversity. 🦑 The discovery underscores the importance of deep-sea exploration and international research collaboration. and international research collaboration. 🚀 NASA's Europa Clipper mission parallels deep-sea studies, probing for life in extreme environments on Jupiter's moon. In the depths of our planet's oceans, hidden secrets await discovery. As humanity turns its gaze toward the stars, with missions like NASA's Europa Clipper probing the icy moons of Jupiter for signs of life, our own deep-sea environments continue to surprise and fascinate scientists. The recent discovery of a new crustacean species in the Atacama Trench, an abyssal region off the coast of Peru and Chile, underscores the vast, untapped potential of Earth's unexplored frontiers. This article delves into the significance of this discovery and its implications for both marine biology and our understanding of life in extreme environments. The Mysterious Atacama Trench The Atacama Trench, also known as the Peru-Chile Trench, is an enigmatic part of our planet's geography. Stretching approximately 3,700 miles along the coast of South America, this trench delves into the deepest parts of the ocean, reaching depths of nearly 25,246 feet. This region is classified as the Hadal zone, a realm of perpetual darkness and extreme pressures. Scientists have long been captivated by the mysteries of the Hadal zone. Despite the challenges posed by the immense pressures and lack of light, these regions are believed to be ecological havens. The Atacama Trench, in particular, has become a focal point for marine research. Recent expeditions by the Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía, aboard the research vessel Abate Molina, have yielded exciting discoveries. i>The Atacama Trench is not just a geographical feature; it is a gateway to a world of untapped biological diversity. The recent findings highlight the importance of continued exploration in this remote region. 'Life Began Far Earlier Than We Thought': Scientists Uncover the Staggering Truth About Earth's First and Only Universal Ancestor Discovering a New Predator Amidst the darkness of the Hadal zone, a new predator has emerged with a name as enigmatic as its habitat: Dulcibella camanchaca. This crustacean, only about four centimeters long, was discovered nearly 8,000 meters below sea level, showcasing the astonishing adaptability of life in extreme conditions. Its white carapace and unique morphology lend it an otherworldly appearance, reminiscent of the infamous Facehugger from the Alien franchise. What makes D. camanchaca truly remarkable is not just its eerie appearance but its classification. Genomic testing confirmed that it is not just a new species but also a new genus, underscoring the Atacama Trench as a hotspot of endemic biodiversity. The discovery of this predator, with its fearsome ability to clamp down on prey using raptorial appendages, adds a new layer to our understanding of deep-sea ecology. This finding is a testament to the resilience of life in the face of adversity. In the Hadal zone, where pressures are 800 times greater than on the surface, this tiny crustacean thrives. 'Life Sparked by Fungi and Plants': Gene Transfer Between Kingdoms May Have Ignited Earth's Earliest Ecosystems Billions of Years Ago Scientific Implications and Future Exploration The discovery of D. camanchaca has far-reaching implications for marine biology. It highlights the importance of deep-sea exploration and the potential for uncovering new life forms in Earth's unexplored regions. As Carolina González, co-lead author of the study, emphasized, continued research in the Atacama Trench is expected to yield even more discoveries. This newfound predator serves as a stark reminder of the unexplored diversity that lies beneath the waves. It also draws parallels with space exploration. Just as scientists are probing the icy moons of Jupiter for signs of life, Earth's own oceans remain largely uncharted. The adaptability of D. camanchaca raises intriguing questions about the potential for life in extreme environments, both on our planet and beyond. The research conducted by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and the Universidad de Concepción in Chile underscores the importance of international collaboration in advancing our understanding of marine ecosystems. 'A Real-Life Mini-Dragon Exists': Scientists Baffled by This Elusive Creature That's Nearly Impossible to Spot in the Wild Beyond Earth: The Europa Clipper Mission As we delve into the mysteries of Earth's oceans, the pursuit of knowledge extends beyond our planet. NASA's Europa Clipper mission, launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, aims to assess the potential for life on Jupiter's moon Europa. Beneath its icy crust lies a vast ocean, presenting an environment that, like the Hadal zone, may harbor life. The Europa Clipper mission represents a significant milestone in humanity's quest to understand the cosmos. However, it also serves as a reminder that many mysteries remain unsolved in our own backyard. The adaptability of life in environments as extreme as the Hadal zone suggests that life could potentially exist in the harsh conditions of Europa's ocean. As we reach for the stars, we must not forget the wonders that lie beneath our oceans. What other secrets does the deep hold, and how might they reshape our understanding of life itself? The discovery of Dulcibella camanchaca in the Atacama Trench is a testament to the resilience and diversity of life on Earth. As we continue to explore the depths of our oceans and the far reaches of our solar system, we are reminded of the boundless mysteries that await us. Will future explorations reveal even more astonishing life forms, both on our planet and beyond? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.4/5 (22)
LeMonde
2 days ago
- LeMonde
French university welcomes first US researchers
Eight American researchers have arrived at a university in southern France, as the country pushes to offer "science asylum" to US academics hit by federal research spending cuts under Donald Trump. The University of Aix-Marseille (AMU) welcomed the scholars on Thursday, June 26, following the March launch of its "Safe Place for Science" initiative, the first among 20 set to relocate there in the coming months. The program has already drawn nearly 300 applicants from top institutions such as Stanford, NASA and Berkeley. The development comes as US universities have been threatened since Trump's return to the White House with massive federal funding cuts, causing research programs to face closures. Some staff also fear possible detention and deportation for their political views. AMU – one of France's largest universities, with some 12,000 international students alone – is eager to provide a home for these scholars, with research funding for up to three years. AMU's program is part of a broader push to cash in on US President Donald Trump's massive cuts in funding for education. In May, France and the European Union announced plans to attract US researchers in hopes of benefitting from the potential brain drain by supporting the costs of hosting foreign researchers. French President Emmanuel Macron, who called the growing pressure on academia by Trump's administration "an error," has encouraged US scientists to "choose France." He announced that his government would earmark €100 million to help attract foreign talent. French lawmakers have introduced a bill to create a special status for "science refugees." European Commission head Ursula Von der Leyen has said the EU will launch an incentives package worth €500 million to make the 27-nation bloc "a magnet for researchers." For its part, AMU expects to welcome the other 12 American researchers in the coming months, with its budget of €15 million. "Saving our American colleagues and welcoming them is also a way of welcoming and promoting global research," said the university's president, Eric Berton. "This is a science welcome program, a science asylum program. And above all, we want to enshrine the concept of science refugees in law," he added. In recent years, France has already welcomed scholars forced into exile from Ukraine, Yemen, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories.
France 24
2 days ago
- France 24
'Science refugees': French university welcomes first US researchers
The University of Aix-Marseille (AMU) welcomed the scholars on Thursday, following the March launch of its "Safe Place for Science" initiative, the first among 20 set to relocate there in coming months. The programme has already drawn nearly 300 applicants from top institutions such as Stanford, NASA, and Berkeley. The development comes as US universities have been threatened since Trump's return to the White House with massive federal funding cuts, causing research programmes to face closures. Some staff also fear possible detention and deportation for their political views. AMU -- one of France's largest universities, with some 12,000 international students alone -- is eager to provide a home for these scholars, with research funding for up to three years. Historian Brian Sandberg said he decided to apply to the university in the southern Provence region on a return trip to the United States from France, when he feared he might face arrest at the border of his own country. Though he was not detained, "it makes you think about what is your status as a researcher", said the academic from Illinois whose work focuses on religion, gender and violence. Academic freedom 'under attack' Sandberg is now one of 20 scholars specialising in subjects ranging from health, climate science, astrophysics and the humanities set to relocate to France in September. There, they hope to pursue their research in what they see as a more open academic environment. "The principle of academic freedom, as well as the entire system of research and higher education in the United States is really under attack," said Sandberg. "If I stay in the United States, I can continue to teach, but as a researcher, for the next four years, we're stuck," he said, referring to Trump's term in office. One academic who requested anonymity said Trump's policies directly threatened her work on gender and human-caused global warming. "Apparently, one of the banned words... is 'female'," she said. "I don't know how you can get around speaking about females without using the word," she said. In February, the Washington Post reported that the National Science Foundation was flagging research using terms such as "female" and "women" that could violate Trump's orders rolling back diversity initiatives. But she said her decision to move to France went beyond her professional freedom. "I've got kids, I don't want them to grow up in a very hostile area," she said. A 'science asylum programme' AMU's programme is part of a broader push to cash in on US President Donald Trump's massive cuts in funding for education. In May, France and the EU announced plans to attract US researchers in hopes of benefitting from the potential brain drain by supporting the costs of hosting foreign researchers. French President Emmanuel Macron, who called the growing pressure on academia by Trump's administration "an error", has encouraged US scientists to "choose France". He announced that his government would earmark 100 million euros ($117 million) to help attract foreign talent. French lawmakers have introduced a bill to create a special status for "science refugees". European Commission head Ursula Von der Leyen has said the European Union will launch an incentives package worth 500 million euros to make the 27-nation bloc "a magnet for researchers". For its part, AMU expects to welcome the other 12 American researchers in the coming months, with its budget of 15 million euros. "Saving our American colleagues and welcoming them is also a way of welcoming and promoting global research," said the university's president Eric Berton. "This is a science welcome programme, a science asylum programme. And above all, we want to enshrine the concept of science refugees in law," he added. © 2025 AFP
