Axiom-4 Peggy Whitson’s astronauts, Shubhanshu Shukla, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu are illustrated on a reverse clock while the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands at the Launch Complex 39-A in the background, June 9, 2025. | Photo credit: Reuters
The Axiom-4 mission, which should transport Indian astronaut shubhanshu shukla At the International Space Station (ISS) is expected to take off on June 19, “from now on,” the Minister of Science and Technology said Jitéra Singh on Sunday at a press conference.
This comes one day after the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) first declared, then deleted the date of the launch postponed on several occasions. On Saturday, ISRO posted on its official channels that the liquid oxygen leak on the Falcon-9, which is supposed to transport the astronauts of the ISS, had been “successfully resolved” and that it turned to a “launch of June 19”. Later in the day, however, he deleted the specific reference on the date, modifying his message to say: “The possible launch date for # AX4 is being developed.”
The launch having already been delayed several times, Dr. Singh said that on June 19 “is seriously considered”, but that there were “impoundes” such as weather and other factors.
“Mutual cooperation” with SpaceX
In response to a question of The HindusThe Minister played differences perceived between the ISRO and the SpaceX belonging to Elon Musk – which owns and operates the Falcon – on the threat posed by the discovery of an “oxygen leak” during an engine test on June 8.
On June 10, ISRO had declared on his website that he “recommended” repairs or replacement on site and a “low -temperature leakage test” before cleaning the vehicle for launch. A media report said ISRO should insist on such a test.
“With regard to our understanding, there was an optimal quantity of mutual cooperation. As soon as the leak was reported, the two teams met and agreed to respond to this (the flight),” said Dr. Singh, who is also the minister responsible for space.
Detected oxygen leakage
Astronauts were initially offset on May 29, which was postponed to June 8, then on June 10, then on June 11, when SpaceX, the supplier of the launch rocket and the space capsule, detected a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon-9 rocket.
Delays were also due to a hitch in the Zvezda service module on the ISS. Axiom, the company coordinating the launch, said that it “coordinated with NASA on the module anomaly”.
The former NASA astronaut and director of human space flights at Axiom Space, Peggy Whitson, will organize the commercial mission, while Mr. Shukla, the Astronaut of Isro, will be the pilot. The two mission specialists are astronauts from the European Space Agency (ESA) Slawosz Uznanski-Wisnishwski in Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The 14 -day mission “will return” to human space for India, Poland and Hungary.
(with PTI entries)
Published – June 15, 2025 07:51 PM ist