Latest news with #Ax4Mission
Times of Oman
6 days ago
- Science
- Times of Oman
Axiom-4 piloted by Group Captain Shukla docks successfully at International Space Station
Florida: Axiom 4 mission aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully docked at the International Space Station on Thursday. The Dragon spacecraft was ahead of schedule, autonomously docking at 4:05 pm (IST) to the space-facing port of the space station's Harmony module. NASA Flight Engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers monitored Dragon's automated approach and docking manoeuvres. The Ax-4 crew will be welcomed by the seven-member Expedition 73 team and will now take part in a safety briefing. Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA (European Space Agency) astronauts Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary lifted off at Noon IST on June 25, on the SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The astronauts plan to spend about two weeks aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission comprised of science, outreach, and commercial activities. The mission is sending the first ISRO astronaut to the station as part of a joint effort between NASA and the Indian space agency. The private mission also carries the first astronauts from Poland and Hungary to stay aboard the space station. Earlier, in a live interaction from aboard the spacecraft, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, serving as the mission pilot, described the launch as "magical" and reflected on his journey. "I am thrilled to be here with my fellow astronauts--what a ride it was. Honestly, as I sat in the capsule 'Grace' on the launchpad yesterday after 30 days of quarantine, all I could think was: just go. When the launch finally happened, it was something else entirely. You're pushed back into the seat--and then suddenly, there's silence. You're just floating in the vacuum, and it's magical," Shukla said. He expressed gratitude to the mission team, calling the experience a "collective achievement." "I truly appreciate the efforts of every individual who made this journey possible. It's not just a personal accomplishment--it belongs to all of us," he said. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre at noon IST on Wednesday with Shukla, Whitson, Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Kapu onboard. The Ax-4 team will remain aboard the ISS for up to 14 days, engaging in science experiments, outreach, and commercial work. This marks Axiom Space's most research-intensive mission yet, with NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) jointly conducting experiments on muscle regeneration, edible microalgae growth, survival of aquatic microorganisms, and human interaction with digital displays in microgravity.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
WATCH LIVE: Axiom-4 astronauts aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon dock with International Space Station
WATCH LIVE: The Ax-4 crew is set arrive between 6:18 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. Thursday to dock at the International Space Station to begin their 14 day mission on board the orbiting laboratory. This mission will send 27 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. The satellites will continue to grow Starlink's global internet network. The crew of four astronauts blasted off from Kennedy Space Center at 2:31 a.m. Wednesday. SEE BELOW TO WATCH LIVE: >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Digital Trends
25-06-2025
- Science
- Digital Trends
SpaceX just launched the Ax-4 crew to orbit — watch the highlights
SpaceX has successfully launched four crewmembers to the International Space Station (ISS) in Axiom Space's privately funded Ax-4 mission. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Crew Dragon spacecraft lifted off from the Kennedy Space in Florida at 2:31 a.m. ET on Wednesday, lighting up the night sky over Florida and the Atlantic Ocean as the vehicle headed to orbit. Here's a video clip of SpaceX's trusty Falcon 9 rocket leaving the launchpad: This was the second flight for SpaceX's first-stage Falcon 9 booster, and the first-ever flight for this particular Crew Dragon capsule. Following stage separation, Falcon 9's first stage will return to Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral, around 10 miles from the launch site. We'll add the video here when it become available. The Ax-4 crew comprises Indian Shubhanshu Shukla, Pole Sławosz Uznański, Hungarian Tibor Kapu, and American Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut who now works for Ax-4 mission organizer Axiom Space. This will be Whitson's fifth trip to space, while the others are all on their first orbital voyage. In fact, it'll be the first time for the ISS to host Pole and Hungarian nationals, so there's great interest among people in those countries in the Ax-4 mission. SpaceX's Crew Dragon is expected to dock with the ISS at about 7 a.m. ET on Thursday, June 26. The crew will spend two weeks aboard the space station, working on more than 60 scientific experiments and demonstrations focused on human research, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences. Axiom Space's fourth privately funded mission is another significant step toward making space more accessible and international, enabling more countries and private organizations to send astronauts and conduct research aboard the ISS through commercial partnerships.
Digital Trends
18-06-2025
- Science
- Digital Trends
SpaceX reveals new target date for private crewed launch to ISS
SpaceX, partnering with NASA and Axiom Space, is aiming to blast a four-person crew to orbit at 3:42 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 22. The private Ax-4 mission was supposed to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on June 10, but inclement weather in the ascent corridor forced the mission team to call off the effort. A plan to launch 24 hours later was also ditched following the discovery of a liquid oxygen leak on the rocket. Recommended Videos NASA has also been monitoring an air leak in the Russian Zvezda service module at the space station, an additional situation that prompted NASA, in coordination with its Russian counterpart Roscosmos, to delay the Ax-4 launch for safety reasons while they worked out what to do. Following repairs, pressure in the affected area stabilized, and NASA was able to announce a new target launch date. After patiently waiting in isolation at the Kennedy Space Center, the four crewmembers are now setting their sights on this Sunday, hoping that their long-awaited orbital adventure can finally begin. 'The change in a targeted launch date provides NASA time to continue evaluating space station operations after recent repair work in the aft (back) most segment of the International Space Station's Zvezda service module,' Axiom Space said in a release. Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission. Flying with her in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule will be individuals from India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation on the cusp of celebrating its first-ever mission to the space station. The mission will last about two weeks, with the four members living and working alongside the current ISS crew. Interested in watching SpaceX's first crewed launch since Crew-10's flight in March? Digital Trends has everything you need to know.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Falcon 9 Axiom-4 launch delayed due to oxygen leak
ORLANDO, Fla. - SpaceX has delayed the scheduled Wednesday launch of its Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station to allow time for repairs following the discovery of a liquid oxygen leak. The Falcon 9 rocket, which was slated to lift off from Kennedy Space Center, underwent a routine post-static fire inspection when the leak was identified, SpaceX officials said Tuesday. The company said it is working to repair the issue and will announce a new launch date once the fix is complete and range availability is confirmed. The Ax-4 mission, organized by private spaceflight company Axiom Space, will send a crew of four to the orbiting lab for a planned science-focused stay. This will be the fourth all-private mission to the ISS coordinated by Axiom. SpaceX has not specified how long the delay might last. The company said safety remains its top priority. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local: Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source The information in this article comes from the SpaceX website.
