Latest news with #PeggyWhitson
India Gazette
10 hours ago
- Science
- India Gazette
Historic ISS mission launches with crew from 4 different nations
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: In a landmark flight for three nations and a veteran U.S. spacefarer, a four-member astronaut crew launched into orbit early this week aboard a SpaceX rocket, bound for the International Space Station (ISS) on a two-week mission organized by private space company Axiom Space. Lifting off at 2:30 a.m. EDT from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, the crew includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary, all making their first trip to the ISS. Leading the mission is Peggy Whitson, a retired NASA astronaut and the first woman to command the space station, now flying her fifth space mission. "This is an incredible ride uphill," Whitson said over the radio to SpaceX's mission control in California, as the Crew Dragon capsule separated from the Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage roughly nine minutes after launch. The mission, known as Axiom 4, was arranged by Texas-based Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX. The capsule—nicknamed "Grace" by the crew—marks the fifth addition to SpaceX's fleet of Crew Dragons and was making its debut flight. The launch also comes just weeks after a brief political dust-up, when Elon Musk threatened to pull Crew Dragon out of service following tensions with President Donald Trump over federal contracts. That dispute appears to have had no bearing on the mission itself. Whitson, 65, is joined by Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. All three are flying under agreements between Axiom and their respective governments, with national space agencies viewing the mission as a stepping stone toward future independent crewed spaceflight efforts. For India, the flight is seen as a precursor to its first planned human spaceflight under the Gaganyaan program, expected in 2027. The Crew Dragon spacecraft is expected to dock with the ISS about 28 hours after launch, orbiting approximately 250 miles (400 km) above Earth. Once aboard, the Axiom 4 crew will join seven current station residents and conduct microgravity research during their 14-day stay. Axiom Space has now flown four such missions since 2022 as part of its commercial strategy to support international astronauts and private clients. The Houston-based company, co-founded by a former NASA ISS program manager, is also developing its commercial space station to succeed the ISS, which NASA plans to retire by 2030. This launch marked SpaceX's 18th human spaceflight, continuing a five-year run since it became the first private company to carry American astronauts to space after the retirement of NASA's shuttle program in 2011. In addition to operating the launch site, NASA assumes responsibility for the astronauts once they reach and dock with the ISS. For Whitson—who has already logged a record-setting 675 days in space—this mission adds yet another chapter to a trailblazing career that helped redefine human spaceflight for future generations.
NDTV
10 hours ago
- Science
- NDTV
How Shubhanshu Shukla Sees Earth From Space As He Adjusts To Zero Gravity
New Delhi: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is getting the incredible views of Mother Earth as he orbits the planet - seeing 16 sunsets and 16 sunrises. Mr Shukla and his Axiom-4 space mission colleagues are learning more about the safety at the International Space Station and shifting cargo, and essentially setting up their new but temporary home in space. One of the astronauts, Peggy Whitson, posted a picture of Earth on X, saying she has "missed the view". I've missed this view! #Ax4 — Peggy Whitson (@AstroPeggy) June 27, 2025 Mr Shukla is feeling well and continues his activities at the space station. For Group Captain Shukla, day two at ISS will begin with setting up experiments. His first day was spent setting up his new home by shifting cargo from the Grace capsule to the space station. Mr Shukla is still learning and integrating with the Space-11 at the ISS. According to Axiom Space, the Axiom crew continued adjusting to life in microgravity, and the crew focused on integration with the resident Expedition 73 crew. Together, they completed training on handover protocols and emergency procedures, ensuring seamless coordination. The crew transferred high-priority cargo and emergency equipment between Dragon and the space station. This included payloads, essential supplies, and safety gear, all carefully logged and stowed for operations. Dziękuję za Wasze wsparcie. Czuję je cały czas 🇵🇱 Praca nad naszymi eksperymentami w mikrograwitacji rozpoczęta! Thank you for your support. I feel it every step of the way 🇵🇱 The work on our experiments in microgravity has begun! #IGNIS #Ax4 #astro_slawosz 📷 @AstroPeggy … — Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (@astro_slawosz) June 27, 2025 The Ax-4 astronauts also began preparing for their research studies. They initiated setup for several experiments and began transferring samples to designated modules. Looking ahead to tomorrow, the crew will continue finalising the setup for research and technology demonstrations. According to NASA, on Friday, Ax-4 quickly got to work unloading sample-packed hardware and portable science freezers from inside Dragon for installation in station incubators and research refrigerators ahead of upcoming experiments. Station safety hardware was also temporarily transferred inside Dragon, as is customary for visiting spacecraft. The private astronaut quartet later joined the Expedition 73 crew for more safety reviews to learn their roles and responsibilities and communication protocols with mission controllers in the unlikely event of an emergency on the orbital outpost, the space agency said. Meanwhile, Expedition 73 kept up its daily research schedule with a space exercise study, eye exams, and lunar photography. Cargo transfers and life support maintenance rounded out the crew's day. There are eleven astronauts at the space station, hence the Space-11 are right now gelling up to become one weightless family.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket creates nebula-like ring in night sky
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. During the early hours of June 25, 2025, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off into space, headed for the International Space Station. The launch was part of the private Axiom-4 space mission carrying four astronauts on SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. The Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket that often carries cargo, Starlink satellites, or crew members in its corresponding Dragon spacecraft. Its reusable system aligns with SpaceX's mission to make spaceflight less costly, and thus more accessible. When the rocket's first stage booster returns to Earth for launch site landings, the stage's boost back burn can sometimes create these plumes of exhaust high in the atmosphere. The Falcon 9 rocket launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and is currently headed for the International Space Station. The Ax-4 launch is a mission of "firsts," as it carried the first ever-people from India, Hungary and Poland into space, including pilot Shubhanshu Shukla and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu. Leading the team is former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, currently Axiom's director of human spaceflight. Ax-4 was not easy to get off the ground, however. The mission faced two weeks of delays since its original launch date of June 11, 2025. These delays were caused by high winds as well as leaks on both the launch vehicle and the ISS. But finally, on the morning of June 25, 2025, the Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched, ferrying the crew toward the ISS. Once there, the astronauts will spend two weeks in orbit and conduct over 60 experiments before returning back to Earth. You can read more about the Ax-4 mission and SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket as the private spaceflight sector continues to expand into our night skies.
Euronews
a day ago
- Science
- Euronews
ISS welcomes first astronauts from Poland, Hungary and India
The first astronauts in more than 40 years from Poland, Hungary and India arrived at the International Space Station on Thursday, ferried there by SpaceX on a private flight. The crew of four, who blasted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre on Wednesday, will spend two weeks at the orbiting lab, performing dozens of experiments. America's most experienced astronaut, Peggy Whitson, is the commander of the visiting crew. She works for Axiom Space, the Houston company that arranged the chartered flight. Besides Whitson, the crew includes India's Shubhanshu Shukla, a pilot in the Indian Air Force; Hungary's Tibor Kapu, a mechanical engineer; and Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, a radiation expert and one of the European Space Agency's (ESA) project astronauts on temporary flight duty. No one has ever visited the International Space Station from any of those countries before. "It's an honour to have you join our outpost of international cooperation and exploration," NASA's Mission Control radioed from Houston minutes after the linkup high above the North Atlantic. The new arrivals shared hugs and handshakes with the space station's seven full-time residents, celebrating with drink pouches sipped through straws. Six nations were represented: four from the US, three from Russia and one each from Japan, India, Poland and Hungary. "It's so great to be here finally. It was a long quarantine," Whitson said, referring to the crew's extra-long isolation before lift-off to stay healthy. They went into quarantine on 25 May, stuck in it as their launch kept getting delayed. The latest postponement was for space station leak monitoring, NASA wanted to make sure everything was safe following repairs to a longtime leak on the Russian side of the outpost. It's the fourth Axiom-sponsored flight to the space station since 2022. The company is one of several that are developing their own space stations due to launch in the coming years. NASA plans to abandon the International Space Station in 2030 after more than three decades of operation and is encouraging private ventures to replace it.
Yomiuri Shimbun
a day ago
- Science
- Yomiuri Shimbun
International Space Station Welcomes Its First Astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The first astronauts in more than 40 years from India, Poland and Hungary arrived at the International Space Station on Thursday, ferried there by SpaceX on a private flight. The crew of four will spend two weeks at the orbiting lab, performing dozens of experiments. They launched Wednesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. America's most experienced astronaut, Peggy Whitson, is the commander of the visiting crew. She works for Axiom Space, the Houston company that arranged the chartered flight. Besides Whitson, the crew includes India's Shubhanshu Shukla, a pilot in the Indian Air Force; Hungary's Tibor Kapu, a mechanical engineer; and Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, a radiation expert and one of the European Space Agency's project astronauts on temporary flight duty. No one has ever visited the International Space Station from those countries before. The time anyone rocketed into orbit from those countries was in the late 1970s and 1980s, traveling with the Soviets. Speaking in both English and their native languages, the new arrivals shared hugs and handshakes with the space station's seven full-time residents, celebrating with drink pouches sipped through straws. Six nations were represented: four from the U.S., three from Russia and one each from Japan, India, Poland and Hungary. 'We have so many countries at the same time on the space station,' Kapu said, adding that seven of the 11 astronauts are first-time space fliers 'which also tells me how much space is expanding.' Added Uznanski-Wisniewski: 'We will all try to do the best representing our countries.' Shukla rated the experience so far as 'fantastic … wonderful.' The space station's commander, Japan's Takuya Onishi, said he was happy to finally see their smiling faces after 'waiting for you guys so long.' Whitson also made note of the lengthy delay and preflight quarantine. To stay healthy, the four newcomers went into quarantine on May 25, stuck in it as their launch kept getting delayed. The latest postponement was for space station leak monitoring, NASA wanted to make sure everything was safe following repairs to a longtime leak on the Russian side of the outpost. It's the fourth Axiom-sponsored flight to the space station since 2022. The company is one of several that are developing their own space stations due to launch in the coming years. NASA plans to abandon the International Space Station in 2030 after more than three decades of operation, and is encouraging private ventures to replace it.
