Axiom-4 mission: Leak on ISS, not oxygen leak from launch vehicle behind indefinite delay
While problems in electricals, oxygen leak, and unfavourable weather conditions were initially behind the delays of Axiom-4 space mission, it was an issue related to pressurisation in one of the modules of the International Space Station (ISS) that has now led to the mission being delayed indefinitely. 'The revised launch schedule will be announced by Nasa and Axiom after the activities and technical reviews are satisfactorily completed,' the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) said in a statement.
Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to travel to space on board the Axiom-4 mission, making him the country's second astronaut in space and the first on the ISS. Shukla will spend nearly 14 days at the ISS, conducting science experiments.
On Friday, Isro provided a timeline of what led to the delays. The launch was initially targeted for May 29 but was deferred due to an 'observation in the electrical harness' of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft — the module where the crew is seated for their journey to the ISS. The launch was then pushed to June 8 and then again by another day due to the delay in preparedness of the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle.
The space agency said the launch was again pushed for a day due to unfavourable weather conditions on the ascent path of the rocket.
In parallel, when the engines were test-fired on ground on June 8, an oxygen leak was observed in addition to an anomaly in one of the actuators. 'Anticipating the quick resolution of LOX (liquid oxygen) leak issue, the launch was rescheduled to June 11, 2025,' the space agency said, adding that it had suggested that the repairs and replacements could be carried out without moving or disassembling the vehicle. The Indian space agency suggested a low temperature leak test — a test that could assess the integrity of the components at very low temperatures — to validate the performance before moving for the final launch.
On June 11, however, Nasa informed that it was working with the Russian space agency to evaluate a 'new pressure signature' that could indicate a leak in the back section of one of Russian modules of the space station — ISS Zvezda. This comes after a recent repair effort.
The leak in the Zvezda module was first detected in 2019 and the space agencies have been working for years trying to fix it. Now, cosmonauts on board the space station have conducted inspections of the pressurised interior surfaces of the module, sealed off some 'additional areas of interest', and measured the current leak rate. 'The segment now is holding pressure,' Nasa said in a statement.
The Axiom-4 mission was postponed, nonetheless, to provide additional time to Nasa and Roscosmos to evaluate the situation and determine if any additional troubleshooting might be needed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
When Dr Radhakrishnan gave away degrees under tent at IIT-Kanpur
Lucknow: When RBI governor, Sanjay Malhotra, returns to his alma mater, IIT-Kanpur, on June 23 to address the premier institute's 58th convocation at its sprawling auditorium, the event will mark the institute's memorable journey from its humble beginnings. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The institute's first convocation was held under a tent in 1965 and addressed by the then President of India, . The event saw 66 members of the institute's first graduating class conferred the BTech degrees. Dr PK Kelkar, founder director of IIT-K, presided over the function and gave a report on the growth and prospects of the institute. Among the many speeches on the occasion, Kelkar's was the most memorable. IIT-K has come a long way since its inception in 1959. From its humble beginnings in a borrowed room at Harcourt Butler Technological Institute, it has grown to become a premier institution, now situated on a sprawling 420-hectare campus located on the Grand Trunk Road, around 15km west of Kanpur city. Land for the institute was gifted by the govt of Uttar Pradesh in 1960 and, by March 1963, it had shifted to its current location. Today, IIT-Kanpur is renowned for its academic excellence, research, and innovation. A visit to the campus back then would have revealed a serene landscape featuring standing crops, acacia woods, a picturesque line of stately mango trees, flocks of peafowl roaming freely, and a quintessential Indian countryside scene. This idyllic setting made a perfect blend of natural beauty and rustic charm. The campus is designed with a focus on environmental freedom, featuring halls of residence, faculty and staff houses, and community buildings. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now All these are strategically arranged around the central academic area to facilitate flexibility in movement and easy communication. The institute's inaugural batch, the Class of 65, produced some illustrious technocrats and business honchos in the country like Abhay Bhushan, a computer scientist who has been a major contributor to the development of the internet TCP/IP architecture and is the author of the File Transfer Protocol, Suresh Pandey (former director, Bokaro Steel Plant), and Vinay Kumar Modi (Director of Modi Industries Limited). The batch members recall how they departed from the campus in May 1965 and were waiting to hear when the convocation would be held. Finally, they received invitations by India Post. By then many batchmates had left for studies abroad and some of the ones in India could not attend because of work or personal issues. A few of them, though, did make it to Kanpur to receive their degrees. IIT-K made arrangements for them to be picked up at the railway station and they were lodged at the Visitors' Hostel. Abhay Bhushan, chairman of Asquare Inc and part of IIT-K's 1965 batch, reminisces: "The convocation was planned for the afternoon, from 3pm to 5.30pm. We, the graduating students, were asked to arrive by 1.30pm to collect our gowns and caps and to get instructions on walking in the procession. In all, 67 BTech and 5 PhD degrees were awarded." "During the convocation, several speeches were given. Of note was Dr Kelkar's speech where he recalled what we, as the pioneer batch, had been through and how we were better educated to handle whatever our profession and life may have to offer. He said that the faith that they have shown in the future of the institute has been a real source of inspiration," Bhushan said. The Class of 1965 gifted IIT-K Rs 2.5 crore during its Diamond Jubilee Reunion celebrations in March. The batch pledged this amount towards creating a "Pioneering Research and Innovation Award" at the institute. Talking to TOI, the institute's present director, Professor Manindra Agrawal, said: "This year, we are celebrating the 58th convocation. Over the years, the institute has come a long way in contributing to the nation's technology and innovation landscape, as well as shaping bright minds. As an alumnus myself, every convocation here is nostalgic."
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
IIT Guwahati develops mechanism to treat 1,000 litre contaminated water for Rs 20
New Delhi: Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, have developed a low-cost community scale water treatment system that removes fluoride and iron from groundwater and can treat up to 20,000 litre of contaminated water per day, officials said. The findings of the research have been published in the prestigious ACS ES&T Water journal. The researchers claimed the system was highly affordable and could treat 1,000 litre of water at a paltry Rs 20. According to Mihir Kumar Purkait, Professor at Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati , fluoride, a mineral generally used in dental care products, pesticides, fertilisers and some industrial processes, can enter groundwater either naturally or through human activities such as agriculture and manufacturing. "Consumption of water with excess fluoride presence can lead to skeletal-fluorosis, a serious health condition in which bones harden and joints become stiff, making physical movement difficult and painful. In India, states including Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, and Gujarat, among others, face high levels of fluoride in groundwater," Purkait said. The IIT Guwahati research team developed a four-step system that ensures a cost-effective and energy-efficient technology for contaminated water treatment. Purkait said the hydrogen and oxygen bubbles produced during electrolysis interact with air bubbles, assisting in lifting pollutant particles to the surface. The selection of electrode material depends on factors like low cost, low oxidation potential and high electro-positivity after dissolution. "Among available options, aluminum has proven highly effective, particularly in the removal of iron, arsenic, and fluoride under optimal operational conditions," he said. The research team tested the developed system under real-world conditions for 12 weeks and recorded consistent performance. The results have shown removal of 94 per cent iron and 89 per cent fluoride from the wastewater, bringing the levels within safe limits set by Indian standards. "A key feature of the developed system is its cost effectiveness, with Rs 20 per 1,000 liters of treated water, making it highly affordable. The developed technology requires minimal supervision and has a projected lifespan of 15 years with electrode replacement scheduled every six months," he said. The study proposes a method to estimate electrode life using a built-in safety factor to ensure timely maintenance. As a pilot project, in support with the Public Health Engineering Department of Assam, the developed technology has been successfully installed by Kakati Engineering Pvt Ltd in Changsari, Assam. "We are also exploring the use of solar or wind power to operate the unit and to utilise the hydrogen gas generated during electrocoagulation process . By integrating smart technologies such as real-time sensors and automated controls, we will be able to further reduce the need for manual intervention, making the system more effective for remote and underserved areas," he said. The research team also aims to combine the current system with other water treatment methods to enhance performance and provide a decentralised water treatment solution. PTI
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
HAL wins ₹511-crore deal to build, own and commercialise SSLV launches
The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has bagged a Transfer of Technology (ToT) deal, valued at ₹511 crore, from the Indian Space Research Organisation, to build and operate Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs). The SSLV is a three-stage vehicle to launch satellites that weigh less than 500 kg into the Lower Earth Orbit (LEO). The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) on Friday announced the HAL as the winning bidder among three shortlisted bidders. The deal will enable commercialisation of SSLV launches. Other contenders Apart from the HAL, which had applied independently, two other technically qualified bidders were shortlisted: Alpha Design Technologies Ltd., Bengaluru, leading a consortium with Agnikul Cosmos and Walchand Industries Ltd.; and Bharat Dynamics Ltd., Hyderabad, leading a consortium with Skyroot Aerospace, Keltron and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). Among the three, HAL emerged as the highest bidder. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, announced the winner. 'The HAL will be giving ₹511 crore. It is a phased payment that will be done with some amount at the time of signing the contract and the remaining coming over a period of two years. The ToT phase will take two years and during these two years, the HAL will make at least two SSLV rockets with complete help and handholding from the ISRO and after two years, they will be on their own. So during the two years, they will draw all the technology and take it from there,' Dr. Goenka said. Rigorous evaluation IN-SPACe said the bidding process involved a rigorous eligibility and evaluation framework. 'A thorough evaluation process was followed, with various technology and financial readiness levels under review. The process, which continued for several months, culminated in the financial bid evaluation, where the HAL emerged as the highest bidder to acquire and operationalise SSLV technology,' the IN-SPACe said. The ToT Agreement will be signed among HAL, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO, and IN-SPACe. The agreement encompasses extensive training and handholding of HAL personnel by ISRO teams, both at ISRO and HAL facilities, for the realisation and launch of two SSLVs in the next two years. 'The launch vehicle system, being multidisciplinary in nature, would require the winning entity, HAL, to undergo rigorous handholding and training under ISRO at both ISRO's and the entity's facilities. This is aimed at realising the projected launch of two SSLVs from an Indian launch port,' Rajeev Jyoti, Director, Technical Directorate, IN-SPACe, said. Barenya Senapati, Director (Finance), HAL said that the PSU intends to build six to 12 SSLVs per year during the production phase and that it may ramp up based on demand and requirement. Space launch liability To a question on who will take the liability of a privately manufactured SSLV, Dr. Goenka said the state (Government of India) has the responsibility. 'It is an international rule and not something India or the HAL or IN-SPACe can decide. Now, it is up to the Indian government to decide how much of that liability they keep on themselves and how much they pass on to the owner and launcher of the vehicle. As per the contract we will have, the HAL will follow whatever is the law of the land.' 'We will come out with a decision on how the launch liability will be shared between the owner of the rocket and the Government of India,' he added.
