logo
Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom Mission Gets New Launch Date After 5 Delays

Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom Mission Gets New Launch Date After 5 Delays

NDTV14-06-2025
New Delhi:
After several delays, Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is likely to fly to the International Space Station on June 19, the Indian Space Research Organisation said in an update.
Five times the mission has been postponed, some attributed to weather issues, at least one because of a leak of liquid oxygen detected on the Falcon-9 rocket and another because of a glitch at the International Space Station, where the astronauts would spend 14 days.
The mission was initially set for May 29, after which it was postponed to June 8, then delayed to June 10, later to June 11 and on June 12, a glitch at the space station postponed the mission. Now, ISRO has announced the new date, Thursday, June 19. Incidentally, neither NASA Space Operations, SpaceX, nor Axiom Space have announced the new date.
ISRO, in a statement, 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 on board the International Space Station. Axiom Space is now targeting June 19, 2025, for the launch of the Ax-04 mission."
On Thursday, SpaceX reported technical glitches on the Falcon-9 rocket after a leak of liquid oxygen was detected during a static test done as the vehicle stood tall on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
ISRO intervened and sought a "validation" of the repairs. The rocket is now ready for a lift off to the space station, where the astronauts will spend 14 days.
On the earlier postponement, Dr V Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO, told NDTV, "It is a good decision to postpone the mission as human crew were involved and safety was paramount."
Axiom-4 Mission
The Axiom-4 mission, operated by Houston-based Axiom Space in partnership with NASA, is a commercial venture where India has purchased a seat for an Indian astronaut for Rs 550 crores.
The Axiom-4 mission, sometimes called Mission Akash Ganga, will carry a four-member international crew aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft flying on a Falcon-9 rocket to the International Space Station (ISS). The crew includes Dr Peggy Whitson from the United States as mission commander, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, both serving as mission specialists. Group Captain Shukla is the designated pilot for this mission.
Dr Whitson is a 64-year-old biochemist and former NASA astronaut, and is the most experienced American astronaut with 675 days in space. Her extensive experience includes 10 spacewalks totalling over 60 hours, and she serves as Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space. Her leadership is expected to provide invaluable mentorship to Shukla during the mission.
On the fortnight-long mission, the crew will conduct 60 scientific experiments, of which seven are proposed by Indian researchers.
Group Captain Shukla will also participate in a space-to-Earth outreach program and interact with a VIP from space. Seven crew members are already at the ISS.
If Group Captain Shukla does travel to space, he will become India's second astronaut or Gaganyatri after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who went to space as part of an Indo-Soviet friendship mission to the Russian space station in 1984.
Group Captain Shukla is currently in quarantine and is healthy to travel on this maiden mission to the International Space Station as an Indian.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'National BioBank' holds promise for personalised healthcare for every Indian: Dr Jitendra Singh
'National BioBank' holds promise for personalised healthcare for every Indian: Dr Jitendra Singh

Hans India

timean hour ago

  • Hans India

'National BioBank' holds promise for personalised healthcare for every Indian: Dr Jitendra Singh

The country holds the promise of a future where every Indian may receive individualised treatment tailored to their genetic makeup, lifestyle and environment, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, said on Sunday. He inaugurated the state-of-the-art Phenome India "National Biobank" at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) in the capital. The newly-launched facility marks a significant stride towards building India's own longitudinal health database and enabling personalised treatment regimens in future. The Biobank will serve as the backbone of a nationwide cohort study, collecting comprehensive genomic, lifestyle, and clinical data from 10,000 individuals across India. Drawing inspiration from the UK Biobank model, the Indian version is tailored to capture the country's unique diversity—across geography, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds. Researchers believe the initiative will aid early diagnosis, improve therapeutic targeting, and bolster the fight against complex diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular ailments, and rare genetic disorders. Addressing the scientists and researchers at IGIB, Dr Singh said 'This transition to personalised healthcare is no longer theoretical — it is becoming reality, driven by indigenous innovations.' Reflecting on the unique health challenges faced by Indians, he noted the high prevalence of central obesity, a risk factor often underestimated. The minister highlighted past research showing that seemingly lean Indians may carry disproportionate fat around their waist, underlining the need for population-specific health strategies. 'Our conditions are complex and deeply heterogeneous. This is where the Biobank becomes vital—it allows us to decode that complexity,' he said. He emphasised that India's scientific landscape is evolving rapidly, citing recent advances in quantum technology, CRISPR-based genome editing, and the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). 'India is no longer lagging behind — we are among the early adopters, sometimes even ahead,' he said. The Biobank, he added, will complement these efforts by generating the kind of high-resolution data that can power AI-driven diagnostics and gene-guided therapies. Dr Singh also called for deeper collaboration between research institutions, government departments like the Department of Biotechnology, and industry partners, particularly in areas such as AMR and drug development. 'Research must extend beyond the lab — it must find takers in the market and beneficiaries in society,' he noted. Dr N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, commended the launch of the Biobank as a bold step toward India's self-reliance in healthcare data.

Ever wonder how Indian astronauts communicate with Earth without a signal? they use...
Ever wonder how Indian astronauts communicate with Earth without a signal? they use...

India.com

time3 hours ago

  • India.com

Ever wonder how Indian astronauts communicate with Earth without a signal? they use...

Ever wonder how Indian astronauts communicate with Earth without a signal? they use... In a historic moment for India's space sector, Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla reached the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission. The Ax-4 mission was launched on June 25 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, which is located in Florida. Group Captain Shukla, along with other astronauts, took a 28-and-a-half-hour journey on the Dragon spacecraft to reach the ISS. He held a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also interacted with several Indian students. But do you know how astronauts communicate with Earth when space has no network or mobile towers? Sound Waves Cant Travel As Space Has No Air As we all know, space has no air, and sound waves cannot travel without air, making conventional voice communication impossible. Since sound waves can't be used, astronauts rely on radio waves to communicate with Earth. Notably, sound is a mechanical wave that cannot travel on its own and needs a medium like air or water. The Only Mode Of Communication Is Radio Waves In order to communicate with Earth, astronauts use radio frequencies which is a type of electromagnetic radiation. These waves don't need any medium such as air or water to travel. Astronauts use microphones and transmitters, which are fitted in their helmets, that convert speech into radio signals. These signals then transmitted to Earth through satellite antennas. The ground stations catch these frequencies and convert them back into audio. NASA's Global Communication Network NASA's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) system maintains constant contact with spacecraft. This network uses large, strategically placed antennas to ensure uninterrupted communication. Astronauts Use Relay Satellites ISS uses relay satellites to communicate with the Earth. These satellites hover in high Earth orbit and act as intermediaries, catching signals from astronauts and sending those signals to ground stations. The same pattern will be followed whether it's a voice message, video call or an image. Laser-Based Space Communication Is The Future NASA is exploring laser communication technology as a faster, higher-quality alternative to the current radio-based system used for space communication. While radio waves and antenna networks currently maintain contact with spacecraft, laser systems, employing infrared beams, are being developed to significantly improve data transmission speed and clarity.

Finally, India's Gaganyatri Inside Iconic Cupola Of International Space Station
Finally, India's Gaganyatri Inside Iconic Cupola Of International Space Station

NDTV

time3 hours ago

  • NDTV

Finally, India's Gaganyatri Inside Iconic Cupola Of International Space Station

New Delhi: Smiling and beaming, looking healthy and happy, India's own Gaganyatri Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla looks out of the famous cupola of the International Space Station (ISS). Group Captain Shukla reached the ISS on June 26 on a 14-day mission and is now completing his assigned scientific tasks. He earlier told Prime Minister Narendra Modi he sees no borders from space. Axiom Space says the crew - commander Peggy Whitson, pilot Shubhanshu "Shux" Shukla, and mission specialists Slawosz "Suave" Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu - have now completed nine productive days aboard the ISS. Since their arrival, the crew has been fully dedicated to their packed schedule of scientific research, technology demonstrations, and global outreach. Each day has marked steady progress toward accomplishing mission objectives as the crew contributes to experiments that could shape the future of space exploration and benefit life on Earth. When PM Modi asked about his first thoughts upon seeing space, Group Captain Shukla shared a profound realisation: "From space, you don't see any borders. The Earth looks united." He emphasised the vastness of India, which appears much larger from orbit than on a map, and spoke of the deep sense of unity and shared humanity that space evokes. Incidentally, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has not released any photos of Group Captain Shukla in space looking out of the cupola and how he views India from space. On July 3 and 4, Group Captain Shukla had participated in outreach events with schoolchildren in Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru and his own alma mater, City Montessori School in Lucknow, where over 500 students had a direct interaction with Group Captain Shukla. But till date the Human Space Flight Center (HSFC) of ISRO has not released any of the videos of the heart-warming interactions he may have had in this space to Earth bridge. A much delayed release by ISRO said "through its student outreach activities aims to stoke curiosity of younger minds in space activities, technology and application." In this context, ISRO has planned outreach activities with the Indian student community on the sidelines of the first mission of ISRO's Gaganyatri to the ISS. These events mark a significant moment in ISRO's efforts on awareness of space activities in the younger generation which will drive them to take up challenging careers in the field of science and technology in future and contribute in realising the vision of Viksit Bharat (developed India)". "Thousands across India and the 1.4 billion population are eagerly waiting to see how Group Captain Shukla mesmerised India's youngsters and ignited the minds of the youth to become future Gaganyatri's. Hopefully the HSFC will release these videos soon. Axiom Space said Group Captain Shukla documented the myogenesis investigation, which explores how the absence of gravity accelerates muscle atrophy. This research examines cellular and molecular mechanisms behind skeletal muscle weakening, with the goal of developing countermeasures to preserve muscle health. In another task, Group Captain Shukla deployed and stowed samples for the Space Micro Algae experiment. These microscopic organisms could potentially serve as sources of food, oxygen, and biofuel in future missions and provide sustainable life support systems in deep space exploration. Group Captain Shukla irrigated crop seeds as part of the 'Sprouts project', an experiment designed to explore how spaceflight affects seed germination and plant growth. Following the mission, the seeds will be cultivated over multiple generations on Earth. Researchers will analyze changes in their genetic makeup, microbial communities, and nutritional content. The goal of the 'Sprouts project' is to advance humanity's understanding of sustainable crop production in space for future long-duration missions. Group Captain Shukla recorded a STEM demonstration to illustrate the differences between physical and chemical changes in microgravity. This hands-on experiment highlighted how the absence of gravity alters familiar processes such as mixing substances, phase transitions, and reactions that produce gases or heat. In his 18-minute interaction with PM Modi, Group Captain Shukla said "Bharat looks bhavya". This brought back a flashback to what Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma said in 1984 about India as being "saare jahan se achha".

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store