Shubhanshu Shukla's Ax-04 mission: Liquid oxygen leak resolved; June 19 new launch date
NEW DELHI: The
liquid oxygen leak
detected in the
Falcon 9 launch vehicle
, which postponed the launch of
Ax-04 mission
, has been fixed, the Indian Space Research Organisation (
Isro
) announced on Saturday. The new launch date being targetted is June 19.
At a subsequent coordination meeting involving ISRO,
Axiom Space
, and SpaceX, confirmation was received that the liquid oxygen leak detected in the Falcon 9 launch vehicle had been effectively addressed.
In a separate development, Axiom Space reported their ongoing collaboration with Nasa to evaluate the pressure irregularity discovered in the Zvezda Service Module aboard the International Space Station.
In a press release, Isro said, "During a follow-on coordination meeting between ISRO, Axiom Space, and SpaceX, it was confirmed that the liquid oxygen leak observed in the Falcon 9 launch vehicle has been successfully resolved. Separately, Axiom Space informed that they are working closely with NASA to assess the pressure anomaly in the Zvezda Service Module onboard the International Space Station. Axiom Space is now targeting June 19, 2025 for the launch of the Ax-04 mission."
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card
UnionBank Credit Card
Apply Now
Undo
The astronauts were originally scheduled for lift-off on May 29, which was put off to June 8, June 10 and June 11, when SpaceX, the providers of the launch rocket and the space capsule, detected a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon-9 rocket.
Former Nasa astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, Peggy Whitson, will command the commercial mission, while ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as the pilot.
The two mission specialists are European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
The 14-day mission will "realise the return" to human spaceflight for India, Poland and Hungary.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk wants to shut down the International Space Station for which Donald Trump just sanctioned $1.25 billion; says time to focus on ...
The world's richest man and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has triggered a debate by urging the retirement of the International Space Station (ISS), calling it a relic that's holding back humanity's cosmic ambitions. On July 3, Elon Musk took to Twitter to repost a summary of space-related funding in President Donald Trump's latest tax bill, which allocates $1.25 billion to sustain the ISS through 2030. Musk's blunt response: 'It's time to retire the Space Station and focus on Mars'. Musk's post sparked a heated online debate, with supporters cheering his bold vision and critics defending the ISS as a cornerstone of global scientific collaboration. The ISS, said to be a marvel of engineering orbiting 250 miles above Earth, has been a hub for groundbreaking research since its first module launched in 1998. But at over two decades old, the station is showing its age. NASA has acknowledged that critical systems, including life support and structural components, are nearing the end of their operational life. The tax bill also includes $325 million to fund a safe deorbit process by 2030, signaling that the station's days are numbered. Last year, NASA awarded SpaceX an $843 million contract to build a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle to guide the ISS to a controlled reentry, ensuring it burns up safely over a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. Why Elon Musk wants ISS deorbited Elon Musk argues that the ISS's mounting maintenance costs -- estimated at $3-4 billion annually -- are a drain on resources that could be better spent on humanity's next frontier: Mars. 'The ISS was a great achievement, but it's a 20th-century project,' Musk said in a follow-up post on Twitter. 'If we want to become a multi-planetary species, we need to stop tinkering with old hardware and go all-in on Mars.' His vision for a self-sustaining Martian colony has been a cornerstone of SpaceX's mission since its founding in 2002, with the company's Starship rocket designed to carry crews and cargo to the Red Planet. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo What supporters of International Space Station say Critics, however, argue that Musk's push to abandon the ISS overlooks its ongoing contributions. The station hosts experiments in microgravity that have advanced medical research, materials science, and our understanding of long-term space habitation -- knowledge critical for Mars missions. 'The ISS isn't just a lab; it's a symbol of what nations can achieve together,' said Dr. Ellen Stofan, former NASA chief scientist, in a statement to Reuters. 'Dismissing it prematurely risks losing that momentum.' The ISS is a joint effort of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada, and its cooperative framework has weathered geopolitical tensions, including recent strains with Russia over Ukraine. Elon Musk's 'time to retire ISS' divides the internet Public reaction on Twitter too reflect the divide. 'Musk is right—ISS is a money pit. Mars is the future,' posted user @SpacePioneer2030, echoing sentiments from those who see the station as outdated. Others, like @AstroGeek42, countered: 'The ISS still delivers science you can't get anywhere else. Why ditch it before we're ready?' The debate underscores a broader tension in space policy: balancing immediate scientific gains with long-term exploration goals. NASA's current plan keeps the ISS operational until 2030, with private space stations like Axiom Space's proposed orbital habitat expected to fill the gap. But Musk's comments suggest he'd rather see that transition happen sooner. SpaceX, which already ferries astronauts and supplies to the ISS, is positioned to play a key role in both the station's end and the next chapter of space exploration. The company's reusable rockets have slashed launch costs, making ambitious projects like Mars missions more feasible. The tax bill's funding for the ISS and its deorbit underscores a pragmatic reality: the station's end is inevitable. Yet Musk's call to shift focus to Mars raises questions about priorities in an era of constrained budgets and competing global challenges. As one senior NASA official, speaking anonymously, told The Washington Post, 'Elon's not wrong that Mars is the big goal, but the ISS is still teaching us how to get there. It's not an either-or situation—yet."
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to interact with school students at NESAC on Tuesday
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to interact with school students at ISRO 's North East Space Application Centre (NESAC) from his orbital post on the International Space Station via ham radio on Tuesday interaction is planned via a telebridge set up NESAC in Shillong, said the Amateur Radio on International Space Station (ARISS), which facilitates interaction of school students with astronauts on the orbital is on a 14-day scientific expedition on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission , along with three other ARISS programme inspires students worldwide to pursue their interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through amateur radio communication opportunities with the ISS on-orbit crew."Axiom_Space #Ax4 crew member Shubhanshu Shukla, VU2TNI, will talk with students at NESAC in Meghalaya via ham radio," ARISS said in a post on X about Tuesday's Friday, Shukla interacted with students at the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru. Ham radio enthusiasts tuned in to the designated frequency to listen in to the radio, also known as amateur radio, is a non-commercial radio communication service operated by licensed enthusiasts and is considered a reliable mode of communication during disasters, when conventional modes of communication are not available. PTI
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Shux in space: ISRO's Shubhanshu Shukla conducts bone, radiation, and microgravity experiments on ISS
Focus on bone health and personalised space medicine About the mission and crew Radiation monitoring and algae deployment Live Events Microgravity research involving tardigrades and muscle regeneration Cognitive assessments and interaction with mission scientists (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel After a day of scheduled rest, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his fellow Axiom-4 crew members resumed scientific activities aboard the International Space Station ( ISS ) on Saturday, conducting experiments aimed at understanding the effects of microgravity on bones and radiation exposure. These studies are expected to contribute to both astronaut safety on long-duration missions and medical advancements on crew took part in the Bone on ISS experiment, which studies how bones degrade in microgravity and recover after returning to Earth. According to Axiom Space, researchers are analysing biological markers related to bone formation, inflammation, and growth to build a 'digital twin' — a virtual simulation model of how bones respond to spaceflight.'This personalised approach could revolutionise astronaut-health screening, allowing mission planners to predict skeletal risks and tailor countermeasures for each individual. Beyond space, the findings may also lead to better treatments for osteoporosis and other bone-related conditions here on Earth,' Axiom Space said in a Shukla, 39, a native of Lucknow, serves as the mission pilot for Axiom-4. Veteran U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson is the commander, while Hungarian Tibor Kapu and Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski serve as mission specialists. Shukla, whose call sign is "Shux", is part of the 14-day commercial mission operated by Axiom the tenth flight day, Shukla also participated in an experiment to monitor radiation levels aboard the ISS. This research is expected to support protective strategies for astronauts on missions farther from addition, Shukla deployed samples for the Space Micro Algae investigation. The experiment focuses on understanding the growth and adaptation of microalgae in space , with potential applications for life support systems such as food, fuel, and air production in future space to the Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ), Shukla also completed a microgravity experiment involving tardigrades. The study explored their survival, revival, and reproductive behaviour in space, with the findings expected to improve understanding of extremophile resilience and potential therapeutic applications on is also involved in the myogenesis study, which investigates the impact of microgravity on human muscle regeneration. The experiment is progressing with planned interventions and observation recordings in line with established part of the Electronic Displays human research study, Shukla has been conducting daily software-based cognitive and interface assessments. The goal is to enhance crew interaction with digital systems in space and other Axiom-4 crew members are scheduled to interact with Axiom Space's chief scientist, Lucie Low, on Sunday to discuss progress on the 60 science experiments planned for the 14-day parallel, additional Indian experiments studying selected strains of microalgae and cyanobacteria under space conditions continue aboard the ISS, contributing to ongoing research in regenerative life-support systems and space nutrition.(With inputs from PTI)
