ISRO working with NASA and SpaceX to address snag in Axiom 04 mission
'ISRO is working closely with Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX as they responsibly address the ISS Zvezda module observation causing the Ax‑4 delay. Safety and mission integrity remain our top priorities,' ISRO chairman Dr V Narayanan said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Fighter jet maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited bags transfer of technology of SSLV from ISRO for ₹511 crore
In a significant milestone, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was on Friday declared the winner of the bid for the transfer of technology of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) rocket to place satellites up to 500 kg in low-earth orbit, edging out two consortia. According to a PTI report, fighter jet manufacturer HAL was the standalone bidder for the coveted contract to build the ISRO-designed rocket and was pitted against the two consortia – one led by Alpha Design Technologies, backed by the Adani Group, and the other led by Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Limited. In a message on X, HAL said that it will be responsible for absorbing, manufacturing and commercialising SSLV technology. 'HAL's selection for the SSLV ToT will enable indigenous production and further development of small satellite launch capabilities, opening up new partnerships with domestic and international satellite operators,' Dr DK Sunil, Chairman and Managing Director of HAL, said. HAL presented the winning bid of ₹ 511 crore to emerge as the sole manufacturer of the SSLV after the completion of the process of transfer of technology that is expected to take place over the next two years, the PTI report said. "Under this technology-transfer agreement, HAL will have the capability to independently build, own and commercialise SSLV launches," Pawan Kumar Goenka, chairman, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (INSPACe), told a press conference in New Delhi. HAL will be the third company to build rockets after space sector start-ups Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos, the report added. Goenka said nine companies had evinced interest in the transfer of technology of the SSLV, of which three were rejected. Of the remaining six, three chose not to apply. "The SSLV technology transfer marks a pivotal moment in India's transformative commercial space segment, as this is one of the first instances of a space agency transferring complete launch vehicle technology to a company," he said. Goenka said that ISRO will handhold HAL and assist it in building two prototype rockets over the next two years. After that, the state-owned company is expected to independently produce six to 10 SSLVs every year, depending on the demand. "HAL will be free to improve on the design and select its own vendors from the third rocket after the two-year period," Goenka said. According to HAL, SSLV is a compact, cost-effective, and highly flexible launch vehicle developed by ISRO to address the rapidly growing demand for launching small satellites into Low Earth Orbit. The SSLV was developed by the ISRO to launch small satellites into low-earth orbit at a shorter notice, a capability required by the defence forces in times of emergencies. "This collaboration marks a significant step towards strengthening India's commercial satellite-launch capabilities and more specifically, in enabling Indian industry in realising this SSLV," Radhakrishnan Durairaj, Chairman and Managing Director of New Space India Limited (NSIL), said. According to the PTI report, the move is part of efforts to allow the ISRO to focus more on research and hive off the routine activities of launching satellites, using proven launch vehicles to the industry. "We are looking forward to working closely under the ISRO and IN-SPACe's guidance to progress in phases and realise the end objectives. We are confident of steering a cohesive ecosystem that enables more small satellite launches from India's ports," DK Sunil, CMD, HAL, said. The technology-transfer agreement will be signed among HAL, NSIL, ISRO and IN-SPACe.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
What's Holding Up Axiom Mission-4 As Launch Window Closes & Crew Waits? Explained
Last Updated: With a tight timeline, further delays in lift-off could disrupt pre-scheduled July missions carrying cargo and critical supplies to the ISS, pushing back AX-4 by months The launch window for the much-anticipated Axiom Mission-4 is rapidly closing as the crew remains on standby in Florida, while National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scrambles to complete the last-minute troubleshooting on the International Space Station (ISS). The lift-off – now postponed for the fifth time in three weeks – remains without a confirmed new date. Two days before the scheduled lift-off, NASA announced that it has again decided to stand down from a launch on June 22, and target a new launch date in the coming days. While the initial air leak in the ISS's Zvezda module has already been halted by the crew on-board, NASA said it needed 'additional time to evaluate the station after recent repair work". The space station currently has seven people on board as part of Expedition 73, with four docked spacecraft — two crew and two cargo. NASA's SpaceX Crew 11 mission is also in waiting as it also planned to dock into the ISS in July. However, NASA highlighted that the AX-4 crew including Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla remains on standby and 'ready to launch when the station is ready to receive them", and it continues to review the launch opportunities along with Axiom Space and SpaceX. Axiom Mission-4 has faced a string of delays – from initial weather concerns to a last-minute liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon-9 booster that scrubbed the June 11 launch. While SpaceX has since resolved the issue, the latest setback stems from the ongoing repairs to the ISS's Zvezda module, which NASA and Roscosmos are currently addressing. The ISS was built like a Lego set, with each piece built in various countries around the world, then launched and assembled in space. Five partner agencies, Canada, Europe, Japan, NASA in the US and Russia's Roscosmos operate the ISS with each partner responsible for managing and controlling the hardware it provides. They continue to monitor it to ensure safe habitation for astronauts, carry out repairs and replacements. Over the last 25 years, ISS has hosted astronauts from multiple countries who live and work aboard it. Last week, cosmonauts aboard the ISS detected some air leaks in the back segment of ISS's Zvezda module during regular inspections. It is a core component of the Russian orbital segment, which acts as a primary living space, and provides life support. The air leak in the pressurised module was sealed immediately, but NASA said that it needs additional time to evaluate the ISS after recent repair work. 'Because of the space station's interconnected and interdependent systems, NASA wants to ensure that the station is ready for additional crew members, and it is taking that time to review data," it highlighted. The issue needs to be resolved and validated before any new spacecraft can dock with the ISS. CAN AXIOM MISSION-4 STILL MAKE IT TO ISS NOW? The tension is mounting on the space agencies, as the current launch window is available only till June 30. The lift-off possibilities are narrowing with each passing day, as it was originally designed to be a 14-day mission. There is limited time, considering further delay jeopardises the subsequent missions in July, including some carrying cargo or other essential supplies — a timeline for which is locked in months in advance. Also, ISS has limited docking ports which need to be available, especially for a private spaceflight lasting 14 days. Four ports are already occupied by spacecraft – two crew and two cargo. NASA's SpaceX Crew 11 mission is also in waiting as it also planned to dock into the ISS in July. The launch is also subject to the weather conditions at the launch site near Florida coast, as well as the ascent path of the rocket. Moreover, the four astronauts have been in quarantine for nearly three weeks, and the delay affects their mission readiness. Compounding the urgency are also the 60 carefully chosen science experiments for the 14-day mission, including the seven shortlisted by ISRO—all of which have a limited viability window. On the ground are additional challenges—technical, logistics, financial—which continue to put added strain on all space agencies involved. top videos View all ISRO, which has invested almost Rs 550 crore in this private spaceflight collaboration, has made it clear that it does not intend to take any chances. Riding on it are hopes and dreams of billions, as Gaganyaan astronaut-designate Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to become the first Indian astronaut to enter the International Space Station. The commercial collaboration was designed so that it could provide him the necessary training and exposure in space, before India's Rs 20,000 crore Gaganyaan – maiden human spaceflight mission. ISRO Chairman Dr. V Narayanan remains stationed in Florida with his team to oversee mission readiness, and emphasised that 'safety and mission integrity remain India's top priorities". Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Axiom Space nasa news18 specials Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 21, 2025, 08:00 IST News explainers What's Holding Up Axiom Mission-4 As Launch Window Closes & Crew Waits? Explained
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Axiom launch: Shubhanshu Shukla to take part in these 7 experiments in space
Axiom Mission 4 (Ax‑4) is all geared up to take off to its destination, International Space Station (ISS), from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will be part of the crew. He and other team members will conduct several experiments in space. The experiments that are to be conducted by Shukla, are developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and other Indian institutions.(AFP) The launch, which was scheduled on Sunday, June 22, has been delayed. While the launch shas been postponed until further notice, Shukla and Axiom Mission will be reportedly conducting these 7 experiments in space. The experiments are developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and other Indian institutions. 1. Myogenesis Co-ordinated by the Institute of Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (InStem), India, one of India's research missions as part of Axiom includes looking for the causes of muscle atrophy. Since astronauts suffer from muscle loss in space, Shukla will be looking into its causes in microgravity and identifying therapy-based strategies to deal with it. 2. Food crop seeds in microgravity Co-ordinated by Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology and Kerala Agricultural University, seeds of six varieties of crops will be taken to space to test their growth and development. Kerala Agricultural University expects to look for genetic properties that can be used for crop cultivation in space. 3. Sprouting salad seeds in the International Space Station (ISS) Co-ordinated by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad and Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad, this experiment aims to look for the effect of space on the process of germination and thriving of seeds. The seeds will be cultivated across generations to observe genetic and nutritional changes after the mission. 4. Voyager tardigrade Co-ordinated by Indian Institute of Science, this experiment aims towards finding the underlying reason behind how the almost indestructible micro-animals cope under extreme stress. The process involves rehydrating the organisms and studying their existence and healing procedures in space. 5. Voyager displays Also coordinated by Indian Institute of Science, this experiment will dive deep into researching the physical and cognitive consequences of computer screen usage in space by observing actions like pointing at the screen, and eyeball movements. It will also shed light on its effects on the astronaut's stress levels. 6. Cyanobacteria in microgravity Co-ordinated by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) with the European Space Agency (ESA), this experiment aims at examining cyanobacteria or water bacteria's photosynthesis abilities. Two strains of this bacterium will be experimented with to find out about their growth rates and biochemical activities in space. 7. Space microalgae Co-ordinated by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) & National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), India, this experiment will research into the metabolism, growth and genetic activities of microalgae without gravity, in space. Three strains of microalgae will undergo this experiment. With inputs from PTI
