Shubhanshu Shukla Launches Into Space Aboard Axiom-4, Propelling India To New Heights In Space
Shubhanshu Shukla launched to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 as part of the Axiom-4 private mission, which will dock at nearly 4.30 pm IST on June 26.
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla 's Axiom-4 mission on Wednesday lifted off to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
This is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station by NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX.
The crew will travel to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the company's Falcon 9 rocket.
Axiom-4 Mission Launch LIVE
The targeted docking time is approximately 4.30 pm IST on Thursday, June 26, NASA said in a statement.
A video showed the moment the Axiom-4 Mission lifted off to the Internationa;l Space Station from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
WATCH | #Axiom4Mission lifts off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US. The mission is being piloted by India's IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. The crew is travelling to the International Space Station (ISS) on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on the company's Falcon… pic.twitter.com/jPDKcB44NM — ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2025
Moments before the lift off, Dragon's hatch had closed and all communication and completed suit checks. Further, the seats were rotated as the crew prepared for launch.
Joining the mission are Slawosz Uznanski of Poland, a European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
Uznanski will be Poland's second astronaut since 1978, while Kapu will be Hungary's second since 1980.
Veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson is commanding the mission, adding to her record for the longest cumulative time spent in space by any American.
The four-member crew had remained in quarantine in Florida while it prepared for the launch, once the station was cleared to receive them
AXIOM MISSION LAUNCHED AFTER MULTIPLE DELAYS
The mission was originally scheduled for lift-off on May 29 but was then put off to June 8, then June 10 and June 11, when engineers detected a liquid oxygen leak in the boosters of the Falcon-9 rocket and NASA also detected leaks in the ageing Russian module of the International Space Station.
The launch was then planned for June 19 and then on June 22 which was put off to allow NASA evaluate operations of the ISS after repairs in the Russian module.
According to the ISS, additional time was needed to evaluate station operations following recent repair work in the aft segment of the Zvezda service module.
Due to the highly interconnected nature of the orbital laboratory's systems, NASA was reviewing relevant data to ensure readiness for the arrival of additional crew members.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
30 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Nuclear reactor on moon? How much NASA chief's plan could cost US
The Donald Trump government is amping up the space race with acting NASA chief, Sean Duffy, expected to announce plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon. The NASA chief plans to instruct the space agency to seek proposals for a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor for the moon that would be ready for launch by 2030. Image for representation(Unsplash) Duffy's internal memo went out on Monday, New York Post reported. Notably, NASA has already explored the possibility of installing an electricity-generating nuclear reactor on the moon's surface, so as to power sustained human presence. However, the current NASA chief wants to fast-track this project and more than double the output of the reactor. What does the memo say? Duffy, in the memo, wrote 'To properly advance this critical technology to be able to support a future lunar economy, high power energy generation on Mars, and to strengthen our national security in space, it is imperative the agency move quickly.' Now, the directive will instruct NASA to seek proposals for a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor that would be ready for launch by 2030. Duffy added that if a nation like Russia or China were to build a reactor on the moon first, it could 'declare a keep-out zone which would significantly inhibit the United States.' Also Read | NASA's portable nuclear reactor could power missions to Mars As per Duffy's memo, NASA is to appoint a leader for the reactor project and get the input of the private industry within 60 days. NASA also plans to look for private spaceflight companies capable of getting the reactor to the moon by 2030. So, how much will all this cost the US government? Cost of building a nuclear reactor on the moon While the exact cost of building a nuclear reactor on the moon is not known yet, it would easily be in the billions. NASA already awarded three $5 million contracts in 2022, as it tasked each commercial partner with developing an initial design that included the reactor; its power conversion, heat rejection, and power management and distribution systems; estimated costs; and a development schedule for the reactor that would be on the moon. While this was just an initial payout, a look at how much the Rolls Royce project to build a space-suitable reactor costs, would give a better idea of expenses. The Rolls-Royce NSIP will have a total project cost of $11.7 million, as per Interesting Engineering. However, there are also operating and maintenance costs involved in this as the World Nuclear Association notes, though their observations are about nuclear reactors on earth. NASA's plan to put a nuclear reactor on the moon is part of the larger Artemis project, which has an estimated cost of around $93 billion, as per LiveScience.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
IITs to train Delhi school teachers through Indian Knowledge Systems
School teachers in Delhi will soon have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of India's rich heritage through a new training programme at two Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), education minister Ashish Sood said on Monday. The initiative, which is likely to be launched in September, aims to connect educators with the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), including philosophy, arts, science, Sanskrit, and ancient texts like the Vedas and Upanishads. Delhi minister Ashish Sood (ANI) Minister Sood said that under the scheme, selected teachers from government schools will undergo a five-to-seven-day training programme at IIT Mandi and IIT Gandhinagar. 'The sessions will cover Ayurveda, Yoga, and other aspects of Indian culture, equipping educators with the tools to help students engage with these traditions,' minister Sood said In the first phase, at least 50 teachers will participate, divided into 10 groups. Minister Sood said the move seeks to bridge the gap between modern education and India's intellectual heritage. 'By training teachers in these traditions, we hope that a deeper connection between students and their cultural roots is formed,' he said.
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
A nuclear reactor on the Moon? How the U.S. just unleashed a new era of space power to outpace China and Russia
Synopsis A nuclear reactor on the Moon is no longer science fiction. Under the bold leadership of Sean Duffy, NASA is fast-tracking plans to launch a powerful nuclear power system to the lunar surface. This mission marks the beginning of a new era of space energy, where solar isn't enough and nuclear becomes the key to powering future Moon bases. With a 100-kilowatt target, this project is set to change how we explore space. From surviving long lunar nights to supporting astronauts, this move could redefine U.S. leadership in space. And yes, it's already in motion. A nuclear reactor on the Moon? It's no longer just a sci-fi dream. The U.S. has officially unleashed a bold new space initiative under NASA's interim chief and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy—one that aims to power future lunar missions with a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor. This game-changing plan marks the beginning of a new era in space exploration, where America is racing to stay ahead of global rivals like China and Russia. NASA plan for nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030: In a move that could reshape the future of space exploration, interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, who also serves as Transportation Secretary and is a former Fox Business host, is expected to announce a fast-tracked plan to deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon by the year 2030. This marks his first major agency initiative and signals the Trump administration's growing ambition to win the second space race—this time against China and Russia. NASA's goal is simple yet ambitious: power long-term lunar missions with a 100-kilowatt nuclear fission reactor. The technology will provide reliable, round-the-clock energy for astronauts, research stations, and equipment during the harsh 14-day lunar night, when solar power becomes unreliable. Unlike previous space energy systems, this lunar nuclear reactor would allow future missions to explore, mine, and survive in permanently shadowed craters near the Moon's south pole—potentially unlocking water, oxygen, and other vital resources. Sean Duffy is taking a more aggressive approach than past NASA leaders. While NASA had already been developing a 40-kilowatt fission surface power (FSP) system, Duffy has directed the agency to scale up to 100 kilowatts and shave years off the timeline—setting a launch target for 2030. He's also ordered: A 60-day deadline for industry proposals A designated lead coordinator inside NASA A full review of all nuclear power projects tied to lunar missions This push is all part of a broader strategy to outpace China, which is actively working on its own advanced lunar nuclear technology. Power is everything in space. And on the Moon, it's even more critical. Lunar nights last 14 Earth days—too long for solar panels to handle alone Nuclear power offers continuous energy, even in dark craters or during extreme cold A 100-kW reactor can power habitats, mining tools, scientific labs, and rovers at the same time Without nuclear, NASA would struggle to maintain permanent human presence on the Moon or build infrastructure needed for future Mars missions. The plan builds on NASA's Kilopower project, which successfully tested a small nuclear system back in 2018. The current design will likely: Be compact and lightweight, built to survive space launch Use highly enriched uranium to power a fission system Generate electricity through heat-to-electric converters Safety remains a top priority. All systems must meet strict launch and radiation standards to prevent harm in case of failure. The Department of Energy, FAA, and international agencies are expected to collaborate on safety protocols. Even with political backing, this won't be easy. Key challenges include: Massive payloads : Reactors aren't light—they require heavy-lift launch vehicles : Reactors aren't light—they require heavy-lift launch vehicles Regulatory approval : Launching nuclear material involves layers of red tape : Launching nuclear material involves layers of red tape Budget uncertainty : NASA faces proposed cuts of 25%, including 50% to science programs : NASA faces proposed cuts of 25%, including 50% to science programs Technology risks: Going from prototype to real deployment in 5 years is an engineering stretch Still, Duffy insists that America must lead in space power technology to stay ahead of its rivals. China has been vocal about its ambitions. Earlier this year, its state-run space agency claimed it had developed a smaller, more efficient reactor than NASA's planned design—using just 18 kilograms of uranium compared to the 70 kilograms in U.S. prototypes. Beijing has also accelerated its lunar base plans and suggested it could deploy nuclear systems to power its outposts by the early 2030s. The U.S. sees this as a clear challenge, and Duffy's announcement reflects growing pressure to counter China's space push. This isn't just another space headline. It's a signal that the U.S. is preparing to lead the next era of lunar exploration, with energy independence at its core. By fast-tracking a lunar nuclear reactor, Sean Duffy is putting NASA at the center of a global competition for off-world infrastructure. If successful, this move could lay the groundwork for everything from moon bases to Mars missions—and secure U.S. leadership in space for decades to come. Q: Is the U.S. really putting a nuclear reactor on the Moon? Yes, NASA plans to launch a nuclear reactor to power future Moon missions. Q: Who is leading NASA's new lunar nuclear project? Sean Duffy, the interim NASA chief and U.S. Transportation Secretary, is leading the effort.
