Latest news with #SudhanshuShukla
Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Shubhanshu Shukla docking Space Station Live Updates: Dragon connects to space station; hatch opening soon
Shubhanshu Shukla docking Space Station Live Updates: Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4, is the fourth private space mission to the ISS organised by Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX and NASA. Group Captain Sudhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force is joined by mission commander and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, along with Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Hungary's Tibor Kapu. The mission also marks a return to space for both Poland and Hungary. The crew is set to spend two weeks aboard the ISS conducting around 60 scientific experiments in areas like plant biology, muscle health, and microbial studies in microgravity. The Axiom-4 mission is more than just a scientific endeavour; it stands as a powerful symbol of India's emergence as a global technology leader. It reflects the country's growing capability to drive space innovation, champion sustainability, and play a pivotal role in international scientific collaborations. Once aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Group Captain Sudhanshu Shukla will lead groundbreaking research in the field of food and space nutrition. These experiments, developed through a partnership between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from NASA, are designed to advance knowledge of sustainable life-support systems, an essential component of future long-duration space missions. A key focus of the research is to investigate how microgravity and space radiation affect edible microalgae, a nutrient-rich and high-potential food source for deep space exploration. Scientists will assess critical growth parameters and study transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic changes in various algal species, comparing their behaviour in space to that on Earth. The results could have far-reaching implications for developing efficient, sustainable food sources for astronauts on future interplanetary missions. Follow TOI for live updates:
Time of India
4 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Sudhanshu Shukla becomes first Indian to travel to ISS in 40 years: Read his note on Instagram before takeoff
Sudhanshu Shukla, Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, has made history by flying aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch took place at 12:01 pm today, June 25, after multiple delays. Shukla is the first Indian to travel to the ISS in nearly four decades, following in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma , who spent eight days in space in 1984 as part of a Soviet mission. A day before the mission, Shukla shared a post on Meta-owned Instagram where he expressed gratitude to those who supported him on his journey. Reflecting on the Axiom 4 mission , Shukla thanked the mission team, his loved ones back home, and especially his family and friends, acknowledging the unseen sacrifices they made along the way. In a special mention, he credited his partner Kamna Shubha for being his constant support, writing, 'Without you none of this was possible but more importantly none of this would matter.' Shukla ended his note by saying, 'No one travels to space alone,' a tribute to the collective effort behind his launch. Shudhanshu Shukla's Instagram post before liftoff As we plan to leave the planet early morning of 25 Jun, I wish to thank everyone who has been involved in this mission for their support and also to all the people back home for their blessings and love. A big thank you to family and friends who have been my bedrock in this journey. Sometimes your close ones make sacrifices that you do not even fully understand but they do so out of their love for you. Special thanks to @kamnashubha for being the wonderful partner that you are. Without you none of this was possible but more importantly none of this would matter.. No one travels to space alone.. we do so on the shoulders of so many more. I feel grateful to each and every one of you. THANK YOU. What is Axiom 4 mission Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4, is the fourth private space mission to the International Space Station organized by Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX and NASA. Shukla is joined by mission commander and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, along with Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Hungary's Tibor Kapu. The mission also marks a return to space for both Poland and Hungary. The crew is set to spend two weeks aboard the ISS conducting around 60 scientific experiments in areas like plant biology, muscle health, and microbial studies in microgravity. Realme GT 7: 7000mAh Battery, 120W Charging & Flagship Power Under Rs 40K! AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Why was Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Sudhanshu Shukla delayed
The Axiom-4 space mission with Indian Air Force Group Captain Sudhanshu Shukla was postponed moments before its scheduled launch on June 10 2025. The mission was first postponed due to bad weather at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The postponement turned out to be extended after the discovery of a leak of liquid oxygen when engineers undertook a routine engine test. Liquid oxygen is a critical component of the rocket fuel system and a leak could cause substantial issues at launch time. In order to prevent risks the team interrupted the launch and repaired the problem before they continued. Safety inspections are a top priority for space missions because even the smallest technical malfunction will become a serious risk. There will be a new release date once all systems are cleared. What is the Axiom-4 mission The Axiom-4 mission is a private space mission that has been organized by Axiom Space collaboration with NASA and SpaceX. It will see four astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) for scientific research and international cooperation. Indian Air Force Group Captain Sudhanshu Shukla is a part of the crew, which is a matter of pride for India. The team will ride SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. The mission belongs to a developing trend of commercial space travel, blending public agency assistance with private ingenuity. It also creates new opportunities for nations such as India to be involved in human spaceflight missions beyond their domestic programs. Why was the delay occurred in the launch by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eat 1 Teaspoon Every Night, See What Happens A Week Later [Video] getfittoday Undo The launch was delayed after engineers discovered a leak of liquid oxygen (LOX) during a final 'hot fire' engine test. This pre-launch test involves firing the rocket's engines briefly to ensure they are functioning properly. The leak was found in the rocket's propulsion section, which holds key fuel and engine systems. Any fault in this area could be dangerous during liftoff. The team halted the mission immediately for safety. Such problems, as few as they are, are considered very seriously. It's safer to postpone a mission than to endanger the rocket for damage or the crew on board during flight or launch. What is liquid oxygen and why is it used Liquid oxygen, or LOX, is a highly cold and energetic oxidizer employed in rockets. Fuel in the rocket uses oxygen for combustion. The engines on Earth can burn oxygen taken from the air, space does not have an atmosphere, so rockets have to bring their own. LOX is mixed with fuels such as kerosene or hydrogen to provide the high-pressure burn required to take off. It is stored at very low temperatures—approximately minus 183 degrees Celsius—so it remains liquid. This makes it extremely efficient, but very risky if mishandled. LOX is an important component used in contemporary rocket launches worldwide. Why is a LOX leak dangerous Liquid oxygen is extremely reactive and can be dangerous even with a small leak. Liquid oxygen can create frost buildup, pressure unevenness, and, upon contact with fuel or some materials, it could initiate fire or explosion. In a rocket, temperatures and pressures are extreme, and even a minor malfunction in LOX can be disastrous. That's why the engineers halted the Axiom-4 mission the moment they detected the leak. LOX handling demands strict safety measures, and crews need to be 100% certain the system is sealed, stable, and secure before proceeding with launch operations. What follows next Following the leak detection, SpaceX engineers halted the mission to correct the malfunction and conduct further safety tests. These tests are imperative to make the rocket safe and reliable for the astronauts on board. A fresh launch date will be fixed after everything is cleared. The mission can be postponed by days or possibly weeks, but safety first. For now, the team is concentrating on fixing the issue in full before going ahead. It's a standard procedure in space travel, where every minute detail needs to be checked twice. The astronauts, including Shukla, are still in training and standby for the rescheduled launch. Why this mission is important Axiom-4 mission is a milestone moment for India and the future of international space collaboration. Despite the setback, it's a moment of pride as Shukla becomes part of the elite group of Indians to travel into space. His participation in the mission signifies India's increasing capabilities and presence in the space industry. It also opens the door for more public-private collaborations and international manned missions. Science is not the only purpose of this flight but inspiration, too. Millions of Indians look on, particularly schoolchildren, who might one day envision themselves as astronauts. The mission will proceed soon, carrying those aspirations on its wings.
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First Post
19-05-2025
- Science
- First Post
EOS-09 mission: Why failure of Isro's PSLV launch is so rare
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) faced a setback on Sunday (May 18) after its 63rd PSLV mission to launch the EOS-9 surveillance satellite failed. The mission aimed to place an Earth observation satellite in a sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of about 597 km. Since its debut in 1993, the PSLV has faced only two failures during launch – the first time in 1993 and again in 2017 read more The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) suffered a setback on Sunday (May 18) after its 63rd PSLV mission to place the EOS-9 surveillance satellite in orbit failed. The Earth observation satellite, launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), encountered a failure due to a pressure problem in the third stage of the rocket. Isro Chairman V Narayanan said that the PSLV is made up of four stages and that the first two stages performed as expected. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ | Will Indian rockets take crew to world's first commercial space station? This failure is considered rare, as the PSLV has been a reliable launch vehicle for India's space missions. Since its first flight, the rocket has failed only twice - the first time in 1993 and again in 2017. But why do PSLV launch failures happen so rarely? In this explainer, we break down why PSLV launch failures are rare, what caused the earlier failures, and what the Isro chief said about this latest attempt. Before diving into that, here's a brief look at what PSLVs are. What is PSLV? Satellites used for navigation, mapping, and other tasks are sent into Space using launch vehicles or rockets, such as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). These rockets have strong engines that produce the energy needed to lift heavy payloads like satellites into orbit, pushing against the pull of Earth's gravity. Isro's PSLV-C61 carrying the EOS-09 at the Satish Dhawan Space Station in Sriharikota. PTI The PSLV can carry more than one payload at a time. To do this, it uses special structures called multi-payload adaptors inside the top section of the rocket, known as the payload fairing, according to Isro. Notably, PSLV earned the title 'the workhorse of Isro' by reliably placing a wide range of satellites into low Earth orbit, as per the space agency. ALSO READ | What is Axiom-4 Mission that India's Sudhanshu Shukla will pilot to space? Why PSLV launch failures are rare Since the PSLV's first launch in 1993, it has rarely failed. Only a few missions have faced problems over the years. When failures have occurred, they were mostly caused by issues with how different stages of the rocket separate or by problems in the rocket's engine system. These could include trouble in controlling the rocket's direction or underperformance during a stage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In September 1993, the PSLV-D1 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota to carry the IRS-1E remote sensing satellite into Low Earth Orbit (an altitude of 2,000 km or less). But the mission did not succeed. A fault in the rocket's onboard software caused it to miss orbit and fall into the ocean. The next failure came in 2017, when the rocket's payload fairing failed to detach. This left the satellite stuck inside the rocket. Isro called the mission unsuccessful after the final stage ended, marking the first failure since 1993. In the case of PSLV-C61, failures like this may be caused by several reasons – from problems in the propulsion stages, mistakes during separation of the rocket stages, or faults in how the rocket is guided and controlled. PSLV-C61 rocket carrying Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-09) lifts off from the first launch pad. PTI/File Photo What happened this time? This was Isro's 101st launch from Sriharikota. The mission aimed to place an Earth observation satellite into a sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of around 597 km. In this type of orbit, the satellite would pass over the same location at the same local time each day. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD #WATCH | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launches PSLV-C61, which carries the EOS-09 (Earth Observation Satellite-09) into a SSPO orbit, from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. EOS-09 is a repeat satellite of EOS-04, designed with the mission objective to ensure remote… — ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2025 If the mission had gone as planned, Orbit Change Thrusters (OCT) would have been fired to lower the altitude of the PS4 stage after the EOS-09 satellite was deployed. The rocket stage would then have been passivated to shorten its time in orbit. The satellite carried a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload, designed to capture Earth images in all weather conditions for a variety of observation uses. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD EOS-09 is a follow-up to EOS-04 and is intended to supply remote sensing data to users involved in operational tasks. It also aims to increase the frequency of such observations, according to Isro. Isro Chairman V Narayanan explained that the issue occurred during the third stage of the launch. PTI What led to the failure then? Isro Chairman V Narayanan explained that the issue occurred during the third stage of the launch. He said there was a 'fall in the chamber pressure of the motor case,' which led to the failure. VIDEO | Explaining the failure of PSLV-C61 vehicle launch mission, ISRO chairman V Narayanan says, "Today we attempted a launch of PSLV-C61 vehicle, the vehicle is a four stage vehicle, first two stages were performed as expected, during the third stage, it's a solid motor… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 18, 2025 'Today, we targeted the 101st launch from Sriharikota, the PSLVC61 EOS-09 mission. The PSLV is a four-stage vehicle, and up to the second stage, the performance was normal. The third stage motor started perfectly, but during the functioning of the third stage, we are seeing an observation,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD '…and the motor pressure–there was a fall in the chamber pressure of the motor case, and the mission could not be accomplished. We are studying the entire performance, we shall come back at the earliest,' he added, as reported by PTI. The space agency has set up a failure analysis committee to carefully study the flight and telemetry data to find out what went wrong and to put in place steps to prevent it from happening again. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Indian astronaut Sudhanshu Shukla to grow superfoods in space, a significant step towards space agriculture
Indian astronaut Group Captain Sudhanshu Shukla is preparing for a groundbreaking journey to the International Space Station (ISS) on May 29, 2025, as part of the Axiom Mission-4 , a collaboration between NASA, ISRO, and the European Space Agency (ESA). Among his key tasks is conducting pioneering experiments to sprout and grow green gram (moong) and fenugreek (methi) seeds in the unique microgravity environment of space. This research aims to unlock sustainable food solutions for astronauts on long-duration missions, marking a significant step toward India-centric space agriculture and advancing life-support systems for future space exploration. Growing superfoods beyond earth Sudhanshu Shukla will lead experiments focused on cultivating moong and methi seeds aboard the ISS. These seeds, essential staples in Indian cuisine, were selected for their nutritional and medicinal properties. The study will observe how these plants germinate and grow without gravity's influence, testing whether the microgravity environment affects their development and nutrient content. The science behind the sprouts by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like '부모님 허리통증, 아직도 파스만 붙이세요?' 붙이기만 해도 시원하다는 후기, 많습니다 닥터신 더 알아보기 The experiment doesn't stop at sprouting seeds in space. Once the samples return to Earth, researchers will analyze multiple generations of the plants to study changes in genetics, microbial interactions, and nutritional profiles. This comprehensive approach seeks to identify traits that could improve crop resilience and productivity both in space and on Earth. Why this matters for space exploration Growing fresh food in space could be a game-changer for astronauts on extended missions where resupplying supplies from Earth is difficult and costly. ISRO's effort to test familiar, nutrient-rich crops like moong and methi represents a vital step toward sustainable life-support systems, aligning with the upcoming Gaganyaan mission and the vision for an Indian space station. International collaboration and future prospects The Axiom-4 mission is a testament to global teamwork, featuring astronauts from India, the USA, Hungary, and Poland. This project highlights India's growing role in space science and its commitment to advancing sustainable technologies for space travel. If successful, Shukla's experiments could pave the way for growing more superfoods beyond Earth, contributing to global knowledge of space agriculture.
