Latest news with #Falcon9
Gulf Today
2 hours ago
- Science
- Gulf Today
SpaceX Starship test ends in explosion at Starbase in Texas
One of Elon Musk's SpaceX Starships exploded during a routine test in Texas late on Wednesday, law enforcement officials said, in the latest setback to the billionaire's dream of turning humanity into an interplanetary species. The Starship 36 suffered "catastrophic failure and exploded" at the Starbase launch facility shortly after 11:00pm (0400 GMT Thursday), a Facebook post by Cameron County authorities said. A video shared with the post showed the megarocket attached to the launch arm and then a flash and a towering, fiery explosion. Musk's Space X said the rocket was preparing for the tenth flight test when it "experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase," without elaborating on the nature of the complication. Flames rise as a SpaceX rocket explodes in Brownsville, Texas, late on Wednesday in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Reuters "A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for," Space X said on social media. "There are no hazards to residents in surrounding communities, and we ask that individuals do not attempt to approach the area while safing operations continue." The Starship was not scheduled for launch on Wednesday evening when the explosion occurred during a "routine static fire test," according to the Cameron County authorities. A vehicle passes below the contrail remaining from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base carrying 26 Starlink internet satellites as seen from Pasadena. AFP During a static fire, part of the procedures preceding a launch, the Starship's Super Heavy booster would be anchored to the ground to prevent it from lifting off during the test-firing. Starbase, on the south Texas coast near the border with Mexico, is the headquarters for Musk's space project. Musk appeared to downplay the incident early on Thursday. "Just a scratch," he posted on his social media platform X, although without context it was unclear if he was referring to the fiery explosion of the rocket. Agence France-Presee
India Gazette
7 hours ago
- Science
- India Gazette
NASA postpones Axiom Mission 4 launch, new date to be announced soon
Washington [US], June 20 (ANI): NASA has postponed the planned launch of Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station (ISS). The Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla-led mission was rescheduled for June 22 (Sunday). The ISS said on Friday morning that NASA is standing down from a launch on Sunday, and that it will target a new launch date in the coming days. '@NASA, @Axiom_Space, and @SpaceX continue reviewing launch opportunities for Axiom Mission 4. NASA is standing down from a launch on Sunday, June 22, and will target a new launch date in the coming days,' the ISS wrote in a post on X. According to the ISS, additional time is needed to evaluate station operations following recent repair work in the aft segment of the Zvezda service module. Due to the highly interconnected nature of the orbital laboratory's systems, NASA is reviewing relevant data to ensure readiness for the arrival of additional crew members. Highlighting the global significance of the mission, ISS noted that the agencies 'appreciate the historic nature of this mission for the nations of India, Poland, and Hungary, as well as the world.' The four-member crew remains in quarantine in Florida and is prepared to launch once the station is cleared to receive them. Axiom Mission 4 will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space's Director of Human Spaceflight. Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla from ISRO will serve as the mission's pilot. The mission specialists are ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft remain in good condition and are stationed at Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Earlier, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that the Axiom-4 space mission -- which includes Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla -- will not launch before June 22, as safety assessments are still underway before clearing the final launch timeline. 'We have been told that it won't be before 22nd June. There is a safety angle also involved here,' Singh said at a press conference. Following the rescheduling, Axiom Space had said in a statement earlier that NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX were targeting no earlier than Sunday, June 22, for the launch. The change allows NASA time to continue evaluating station operations after recent repairs in the Zvezda service module. In a post on X, Dr. Jitendra Singh confirmed the updated launch timeline, writing: 'Axiom Mission 04 to the International Space Station (ISS)... After assessing key parameters, including module fitness, crew health, and weather, @Axiom_Space has indicated that June 22, 2025, may be the next likely launch date of Axiom-04 Mission carrying, among others, the Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, to the ISS.' He added that further updates would be shared accordingly. On the 11th anniversary of the Modi government, Singh also highlighted the socio-economic impact of administrative reforms over the past decade. 'The administrative reforms that happened in the last 11 years were not limited to governance. They had extreme socio-economic ramifications,' he said. He emphasized the push toward digital governance aimed at enhancing ease of living for common citizens, and noted that reforms created a more automated system that helped the government achieve key milestones. 'During the 11 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, not only has governance improved but also had significant socio-economic consequences,' Singh said. He added that schemes and reforms were aimed at ensuring justice for marginalised groups. (ANI)
India.com
11 hours ago
- Science
- India.com
Shubhanshu Shuklas ISS Mission Delayed: NASA Awaits New Date
NASA has postponed the planned launch of Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station (ISS). The Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla-led mission was rescheduled for June 22 (Sunday). The ISS said on Friday morning that NASA is standing down from a launch on Sunday, and that it will target a new launch date in the coming days. "@NASA, @Axiom_Space, and @SpaceX continue reviewing launch opportunities for Axiom Mission 4. NASA is standing down from a launch on Sunday, June 22, and will target a new launch date in the coming days," the ISS wrote in a post on X. .@NASA, @Axiom_Space, and @SpaceX continue reviewing launch opportunities for Axiom Mission 4. NASA is standing down from a launch on Sunday, June 22, and will target a new launch date in the coming days. — International Space Station (@Space_Station) June 19, 2025 According to the ISS, additional time is needed to evaluate station operations following recent repair work in the aft segment of the Zvezda service module. Due to the highly interconnected nature of the orbital laboratory's systems, NASA is reviewing relevant data to ensure readiness for the arrival of additional crew members. Highlighting the global significance of the mission, ISS noted that the agencies "appreciate the historic nature of this mission for the nations of India, Poland, and Hungary, as well as the world." The four-member crew remains in quarantine in Florida and is prepared to launch once the station is cleared to receive them. Axiom Mission 4 will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space's Director of Human Spaceflight. Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla from ISRO will serve as the mission's pilot. The mission specialists are ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft remain in good condition and are stationed at Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Earlier, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that the Axiom-4 space mission -- which includes Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla -- will not launch before June 22, as safety assessments are still underway before clearing the final launch timeline. "We have been told that it won't be before 22nd June. There is a safety angle also involved here," Singh said at a press conference. Following the rescheduling, Axiom Space had said in a statement earlier that NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX were targeting no earlier than Sunday, June 22, for the launch. The change allows NASA time to continue evaluating station operations after recent repairs in the Zvezda service module. In a post on X, Dr. Jitendra Singh confirmed the updated launch timeline, writing: "Axiom Mission 04 to the International Space Station (ISS)... After assessing key parameters, including module fitness, crew health, and weather, @Axiom_Space has indicated that June 22, 2025, may be the next likely launch date of Axiom-04 Mission carrying, among others, the Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, to the ISS." He added that further updates would be shared accordingly. On the 11th anniversary of the Modi government, Singh also highlighted the socio-economic impact of administrative reforms over the past decade. "The administrative reforms that happened in the last 11 years were not limited to governance. They had extreme socio-economic ramifications," he said. He emphasized the push toward digital governance aimed at enhancing ease of living for common citizens, and noted that reforms created a more automated system that helped the government achieve key milestones. "During the 11 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, not only has governance improved but also had significant socio-economic consequences," Singh said. He added that schemes and reforms were aimed at ensuring justice for marginalised groups.
India Today
13 hours ago
- Science
- India Today
Shubhanshu Shukla-led Axiom-4 mission delayed again, no launch on June 22
The Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed once again. The ISS official X handle wrote on Friday morning that NASA is standing down from a launch on Sunday, June 22, and will target a new launch date in the coming this comes after Axiom Space said in a statement, "NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are now targeting no earlier than Sunday, June 22, for the launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4."advertisementThe decision comes as NASA requires more time to evaluate ISS operations following recent repair work in the aft section of the Zvezda service module. Given the complex and interconnected systems aboard the station, NASA is taking a cautious approach to ensure the ISS is fully prepared to accommodate additional crew members. Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will lead the upcoming commercial mission as commander. ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to serve as the mission's pilot. Joining them as mission specialists are Sawosz Uznaski-Winiewski, a project astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA) from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft remain in good condition at Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in scheduled for launch on May 29, the mission has faced several delays - first to June 8, then to June 10 and 11 - after engineers identified a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket's boosters. Additional concerns over leaks in the ageing Russian module of the International Space Station further contributed to the postponements.
Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
NASA's Axiom-4 mission with Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla delayed for sixth time
NASA has again postponed the launch of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), which includes Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla as part of its four-member crew. The launch, which was planned for Sunday, June 22, has now been delayed, and a new date will be announced at a later time. 'NASA has made the decision to stand down from a launch on Sunday, June 22, and will target a new launch date in the coming days,' Axiom Space said in a statement on Thursday. The delay comes as NASA continues to assess the condition of the ISS following recent repairs in the back section of the Zvezda service module. 'Because of the space station's interconnected and interdependent systems, NASA wants to ensure the station is ready for additional crew members, and the agency is taking the time necessary to review data,' the statement added. This is the sixth time the mission has been postponed. Originally set for launch on May 29, it was first delayed to June 8, then to June 10, June 11, June 19, and later June 22 before the latest deferment. Earlier delays were caused by multiple issues, including a delay in the readiness of the Falcon 9 rocket, bad weather, a liquid oxygen leak, and a technical fault in the space station's service module. Also Read | Why Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom-4 mission has been postponed five times | Explained The Axiom-4 mission is significant as it marks a return to space for India, Hungary, and Poland. The launch will take place aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Axiom-4 mission holds special importance for India, as it will make Shubhanshu Shukla the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984. Shukla is part of Axiom Space's fourth private astronaut mission, which also marks a key moment in India's growing space partnership with NASA.
