India’s Shubhanshu Shukla’s Axiom-4 mission put off to June 22

New Delhi, Jun 18: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station has been postponed to June 22, to allow NASA to evaluate the operations on the orbital lab after the recent repairs in the Russian section, Axiom Space announced on Wednesday.

The Axiom-4 mission, which marks the return to space for India, Hungary, and Poland, was earlier scheduled for lift-off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 19 onboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

“NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are now targeting no earlier than Sunday, June 22, for launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4,” Axiom Space said in a statement.

advertisement

“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,” it said.

The Axiom-4 commercial mission is led by Commander Peggy Whitson, with Shukla as mission pilot and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu and Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski as mission specialists.

The mission was originally scheduled for lift-off on May 29 but was then put off to June 8, then June 10 and June 11, when engineers detected a liquid oxygen leak in the boosters of the Falcon-9 rocket and NASA also detected leaks in the ageing Russian module of the International Space Station.

“The #Ax4 crew remains in quarantine in Florida to maintain all medical and safety protocols. The crew is in good health and high spirits and looks forward to launch,” Axiom Space said on X.(PTI)

Hot this week

Pay hike of Assam ministers, MLAs likely as 3-member panel submits report

Full report likely by Oct 30 Guwahati Sept 25: There...

Meghalaya Biological Park Inaugurated After 25 Years: A New Chapter in Conservation and Education

Shillong, Nov 28: Though it took nearly 25 years...

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

Shillong, Jan 10: A 57-year-old Meghalaya resident, Mr. Treactchell...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

MONDPOWER HAS REPLACED MANPOWER

By Dilip Mukerjea: Author and Innovative Learning Skills Specialist

THE CRUCIAL IMPERATIVE FOR STATESMAN-LEADERSHIP

By Dilip Mukerjea: Author and Innovative Learning Skills Specialist

Deepti Sharma rises to 2nd in ICC WT20I rankings, in touching distance of top spot

Dubai, July 8: Indian spinner Deepti Sharma stood on...

Mbappé drops legal harassment case against PSG and seeks reconciliation

Paris, July 8: Kylian Mbappé has dropped the legal...

Iran’s government says 1,060 people killed in war with Israel

Dubai, July 8: Iran's government has issued a new...

Tennis players regularly handle pressure that’s comparable to India’s WC games vs Pak: Kohli

London, July 8: Drawing parallels between on-field pressure situations...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img