Latest news with #ISS
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Evening news wrap: Israel carries out massive overnight airstrikes in Iran by deploying 60 fighter jets; Ax‑4 mission delayed again, no new launch date announced; & more
photo/agencies Today's top 5 news developments include the latest developments between Iran and Israel as tensions escalates in the middle east, the delay of the Ax-4 mission and Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's recent rally in Bihar. The tensions in the middle-east are continuously rising. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on Friday conducted extensive overnight strikes on numerous military targets within Iran. The axiom 4 mission set to carry India's group captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three other members to space has been delayed again. PM Narendra Modi visited Bihar's Siwan and inaugurated multiple development projects. He even addressed the public. Israel carries out massive overnight airstrikes in Iran by deploying 60 fighter jets In a highly coordinated operation on the night of June 20, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a sweeping airstrike campaign using around 60 fighter jets to strike strategic military and nuclear-related sites across Iran. The planned offensive specifically hit the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), a facility believed to be pivotal in Iran's nuclear weapons development. Read full story Ax‑4 mission delayed again, no new launch date announced The Axiom‑4 mission set to carry India's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and crew from Poland and Hungary to the ISS has been postponed once more. The launch was postponed so NASA, Axiom Space and SpaceX can further inspect and ensure the readiness of the ISS following repairs on its Zvezda service module. Flight teams say the crew remains in quarantine in Florida and is prepared to launch, with hopes to still meet the late‑June window which runs until June 30 but no fix date has been confirmed. Read full story PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat express, launches ₹9,500 crore projects in Bihar Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Siwan, Bihar, on June 20 where he launched development projects worth over ₹9,500 crore. These included sewage treatment works under Namami Gange, rural water supply projects, solar energy and power storage facilities, and housing schemes. He also flagged off a new Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra and Gorakhpur and unveiled India's first export-bound locomotive. Read full story Air India fare drops after Boeing 787 crash Air India has slashed fares by up to 24% on both domestic and international routes following the June 12 crash of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Travel platform ixigo data shows major declines in fare prices. Air India is inspecting its entire fleet of 33 Dreamliner aircraft, following a directive from the civil aviation regulator. Read full story India and England cricketers pay tribute to Ahmedabad Air crash victims During the first Test between India and England, both teams observed a minute's silence and wore black armbands to honor those who died in the recent Ahmedabad air crash. The tribute took place before the start of the match, showing solidarity with the victims and their families. Indian vice-captain Rishabh Pant said the team hopes to bring some happiness to the nation through their performance. Read full story
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Axiom-4 Mission: Why India's Shubhanshu Shukla is still not in space, the reasons behind the delays
The Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) was delayed again on Friday — the sixth time the scheduled liftoff was put off. The mission, themed 'Realize the Return', is historic in many ways but has seen multiple postponements. Without specifying the next launch date, Axiom Space, which is carrying out the mission, released a statement saying: 'NASA has made the decision to stand down from the launch on Sunday, June 22 and will target a new launch date in the coming days.' The mission was to take off from Kennedy Space Centre on June 22 at 1:12 pm. With an initial launch date of May 29, the mission has been postponed several times, owing to problems in the electrical harness of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that was to carry the astronauts, a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon-9 rocket, inclement weather in the flight path, and repairs needed to fix leaks in ISS's Zvezda 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 space agency said in a statement. Here's a look at the delays and the reasons behind each postponement: 📌 May 29: Originally targeted for May 29, the launch was deferred to June 8 due to 'observations in an electrical harness in the Crew Dragon Module,' according to a statement from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). 📌 June 8: A delay in the preparedness of the Falcon 9 vehicle for the launch meant the launch was deferred by one day to June 09. 📌 June 9: The Axiom-4 launch couldn't take place, this time postponed to June 10, due to unfavourable weather conditions. 📌 June 10: An oxygen leak was detected in the engine, along with an issue in one of the engine actuators. 'Additional observation of oxygen leakage in the engine bay was observed during the preparation for hot fire test conducted on June 08, 2025. Moreover, there was an observation of an anomaly in one of the engine actuators, which was replaced along with the controller,' ISRO said in a statement. 'Anticipating the quick resolution of the LOX leak issue, the launch was rescheduled to June 11, 2025,' it added. 📌 June 11: 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 the Russian modules of the space station — ISS Zvezda. 'NASA informed that they are working with Roscosmos to evaluate a new pressure signature indicating a leak in the aft most segment of the ISS Zvezda Russian service module, after the recent repair attempt'. ISRO said the launch was being postponed to 'assess the situation and determine the need for further troubleshooting'. 📌 June 19: ISRO said the launch had to be postponed again. The revised date was arrived at after detailed discussions involving teams from ISRO, Poland, and Hungary with Axiom Space; consultations between Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX; and an assessment of the predicted weather conditions in the path of the flight. 'Based on the readiness status of the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle, the Dragon spacecraft, repairs in the Zvezda module of the Space Station, ascent corridor weather conditions, and the health and preparedness of the crew in quarantine, Axiom Space has informed that the next probable launch date is 22 June 2025,' ISRO said in a statement. 📌 June 20: Two days before the last scheduled lift-off date, NASA said the mission was being postponed again. 'NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX continue reviewing launch opportunities for Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station. 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.' the US space agency said in a statement. NASA said it needs 'additional time to continue evaluating International Space Station operations after recent repair work in the aft (back) most segment of the orbital laboratory's Zvezda service module'. The Axiom-4 mission will see India's Shubhanshu Shukla become only the second astronaut in space from the country and the first one to go to the ISS. Former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, Peggy Whitson, will command the commercial mission, while ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as the pilot. Shukla's experience will also help India's own ambitions to send humans to space on its own craft.
India.com
3 hours ago
- Science
- India.com
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's ISS space mission Axiom-4 postponed for sixth time by NASA due to..., new date...
New Delhi: The Axiom-4 mission to take Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed for the sixth time. It was to be launched on June 22, but it was postponed due to security check of ISS. Earlier this mission was to be launched on June 11, but it was postponed due to oxygen leak in the propulsion bay. Second Indian after Rakesh Sharma In Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), four astronauts from four countries are going to the space station for 14 days. They include Peggy Whitson from the USA, Shubhanshu Shukla from India, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland, and Hungary's Tibor Kapu. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, referred to as Shux by his crewmates, will become India's second astronaut in space and the first one to go to the ISS. In 1984, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma spent almost eight days on board the Soviet Salyut-7 Orbital Station. NASA said that more time is needed to review and conduct safety checks on the recent repair work done in the rear of the ISS's Zvezda service module. Many systems of the space station are interconnected, so it is important for the new team to have all technical systems fully ready. Oxygen leak SpaceX teams need more time to fix the liquid oxygen (LOX/ LOXygen) leak found in the booster inspection after the static fire test and will announce the new launch date once the repair is complete and the range is available. Objective of the mission The main objective of the Ax-4 mission is to do research in space and test new technology. This mission is also to promote private space travel and is part of the Axiom Space planning, which plans to build a commercial space station (Axiom Station) in the future. Scientific experiments: Conducting various experiments in microgravity. Technology testing: Testing and development of new technologies in space. International collaboration: Providing a platform to astronauts from different countries. Educational activities: Inspiring people on Earth from space and spreading awareness. About Shubhanshu Shukla Shubhanshu Shukla joined the Indian Air Force in 2006 and has also been selected for ISRO's Gaganyaan mission, which is India's first human space mission. To become an astronaut, he took special training in Russia and America. In this, he learned to work in microgravity, emergency handling, and scientific experiments.
Politico
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Politico
NASA's space station blues
With help from John Hendel, Camille von Kaenel and Tyler Katzenberger WELCOME TO POLITICO PRO SPACE. I've been reading how rocket science pioneer Wernher von Braun first floated the idea for what would become NASA's International Space Station in 1952. Check out the wild illustrations. What do you think the U.S. needs in a space station? Email me at sskove@ with tips, pitches and feedback, and find me on X at @samuelskove. And remember, we're offering this newsletter for free over the next few weeks. After that, it will be available only to POLITICO Pro subscribers. Read all about it here. The Spotlight After two billion miles and nearly three decades, NASA is ready to trade in its old, leaky space station for a flashy new one. The problem: NASA can't decide what it wants. A sleek research base? A bare bones structure? A hotel where tourists rub shoulders with astronauts? The indecision could bankrupt space companies, crank up tensions with Congress and leave astronauts without a long-term home in near-Earth orbit. The International Space Station is essential for research that could lead to humans living in space, as well as thousands of other science experiments that inform everything from cancer treatments to robotics. Tell you what I want: NASA is supposed to give companies a peek by late June at what it wants in a space station. The agency would like a commercially-operated one in orbit by 2029, and aims to crash the ISS into the ocean in 2031. These plans became even more critical this month after an air leak on its space station delayed the visit of four astronauts. NASA, at the last minute, canceled a long-planned May event to discuss its goals for a new one, an ominous sign of the space agency's commitment to the mission. The meeting was supposed to help lay the groundwork for what NASA would ask for in June, but officials haven't rescheduled it. The only language companies have to go on — such as 'solve Earth's challenges' — is vague at best. Businesses that hope to make millions off space stations want clarity in order to lure investors and spend wisely. 'Companies can raise the capital necessary to build and launch a space station, but only if the U.S. government makes the plan clear,' said Jared Stout, chief global policy officer at space station company Axiom. About your old ride: Congress is also worried. 'We're all anxious to see that [request for proposal] come out sometime this summer,' said a Senate Republican Committee aide, granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. 'We really do need to start seeing NASA make some serious moves here.' Lawmakers are talking with NASA about the program to ensure it stays on track, the aide said. But if the space agency fails to make headway by early fall, when NASA faces a deadline to make clear what it wants, they may consider more serious levels of oversight. (Think hearings or rearranging funding.) They may be waiting awhile. NASA is operating with only an acting administrator until at least the fall, and isn't getting much direction from the White House. That makes it tough for the agency to move forward with any major decisions. NASA didn't respond to our requests for comment. Out of gas: The longer NASA waits, the fewer bidders it will have left. Space stations are expensive. Axiom estimates a four-module station costs $3 billion. NASA only forks out a few hundred million dollars each year in awards. That means companies have to win over the handful of investors who have both the deep pockets and risk tolerance to bet on a space station, said Alex MacDonald, NASA's former chief economist. NASA's refusal so far to choose one or two companies is another potential problem for investors, he said, as it makes it less clear who to bet on. The ISS can limp along for a bit longer. The station could even extend its service life past 2030, although a lack of spare parts will make it increasingly hard to run. Eventually, the bill will come due — and a bold experiment in living in space may grind to an end. Spectrum SKY HIGH DREAMS FOR BROADBAND: Elon Musk, who has had a tough month, may finally get a win. The Trump administration just handed satellite companies a victory in overhauling a $42 billion program meant to expand internet to underserved areas. Give satellite a chance: The original version of the infrastructure grant program relegated satellite broadband to a lower status reserved for extremely remote regions. The new rules, released June 6 and spearheaded by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, wipe out technology preferences. They put satellites on par with fiber, wireless and other tech. Lutnick stressed a desire to make deployments 'cheap.' That could benefit Musk's satellite broadband offering, Starlink, and possibly Project Kuiper, a similar service from Amazon that's yet to sign up private customers. States have a say too, though, and can choose not to spend the money on satellites. Funny timing: Another curious detail: The program's satellite-friendly revamp arrived right after President Donald Trump threatened Musk's government subsidies, seemingly undercutting the seriousness of the president's promise to hurt his former ally's business. The administration wouldn't say whether the White House is considering further changes but stressed it's 'exploring all options' to deliver broadband effectively. Some states were scheduled to begin installing internet networks this year, but the overhaul bumped that into at least 2026. Lutnick said he hopes to release the money by year's end. Now or never: Some Republicans don't want to wait. 'I would rather have our money now,' Sen. Shelley Moore Capito ( a member of GOP leadership, told John. Advocacy groups and Democrats, meanwhile, worry who will actually benefit. 'It feels like they're just stalling things to reward some of their wealthy friends,' Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), the top Democrat on the telecom subcommittee, told John. In the States MUSK VS CALIFORNIA: One of Musk's favorite foes is under new leadership — and already girding itself for battle. California's Coastal Commission, which set off a row with the SpaceX founder last year when it rejected the company's plan for increased rocket launches, elected new leaders last week to help oversee the agency tasked with protecting the state's coast. That includes new chair Meagan Harmon, who hails from Santa Barbara County, home of Vandenberg Space Force Base, and vice chair Caryl Hart, a former parks director who also served as chair during the agency's SpaceX decision. As our own Camille von Kaenel reports, Hart acknowledged last week that 'this is a challenging time' for the commission, which both Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom also criticized over its SpaceX decision. See you in court: SpaceX launched a legal challenge against the agency, alleging 'naked political discrimination.' The case is still pending before a Trump-appointed judge. A Republican state lawmaker had tried to pass a bill to side with SpaceX and reverse the Coastal Commission's decision. But that Assembly member, Bill Essayli, has since been promoted by Trump to become a U.S. attorney for California's central district. His bill, to let SpaceX launch up to 14 more Falcon 9 rockets from Vandenberg each year, died after no other Republicans took it up, our own Tyler Katzenberger reports. That means the original decision stands, for now. Former Commission Chair Justin Cummings nodded at the hurdles ahead for the agency last week when welcoming the new leaders. 'This coming year is not going to be easy, and probably won't be easy for the next few years,' he told them. The Reading Room Satellite industry derides cuts as national security threat: POLITICO New NASA Boss May Not Take Over Until Next Year, Acting Head Says: Bloomberg Private Space Stations Are Racing to Be the Next 'It' Destination: The Wall Street Journal Varda to launch its first in-house built spacecraft for on-orbit manufacturing: SpaceNews Report Proposes Fixes For The Aerospace Talent Gap: Payload Event Horizon MONDAY: The Center for Strategic and International Studies holds a fireside chat with Air Marshal Paul Godfrey. TUESDAY: The Mitchell Institute holds a discussion with Dr. Kelly D. Hammett of the Space Force. WEDNESDAY: The 2025 SmallSat & Space Access Summit runs from Wednesday to Thursday. SpaceNews holds a discussion on geospatial intelligence. Photo of the Week
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Ax-4 Pushed Back Again, No New Date Yet
Representative image BENGALURU: The launch of Axiom-4 mission (Ax-4), which will take India's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three others to space, will not happen this Sunday or Monday. There's no fresh date announced as of Friday. Nasa, Axiom Space and SpaceX standing down from the launch as the space agency needs additional time to continue evaluating International Space Station (ISS) operations after recent repair work in the aft (back) most segment of the orbital laboratory's 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,' a statement read. Stating that they appreciate the historic nature of this mission for India, Poland, and Hungary, the statement added that the crew remains in quarantine in Florida, and the astronauts stand ready to launch when the station is ready to receive them. The launch, originally targeted for May 29, was deferred to June 8 following the detection of an issue in the electrical harness of the Crew Dragon module, Isro had said earlier. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo It was then postponed by a day to June 9 — which was not publicly announced — and then rescheduled to June 10. The June 10 launch was rescheduled once again. During preparations for a hot fire test on June 8, SpaceX engineers detected a liquid oxygen (LOX) leak in Falcon-9. An anomaly was also found in one of the engine actuators, which was subsequently replaced along with its controller. Expecting a quick resolution of the LOX leak, the mission was initially rescheduled for June 11. Isro said it had stressed on crew safety in review meetings. Mission partners on late on June 10 decided to postpone the launch further to conduct a test to validate the corrections carried out. After postponements owing to liquid oxygen (LOX) leak in the Falcon-9 rocket, the wait for Axiom-4 mission launch and India's Shubhanshu Shukla going to space got extended further because of an issue at the International Space Station (ISS). The mission partners then announced June 19 as a probable date. And Nasa, earlier this week said it was continuing to work with Roscosmos (Russian space agency) 'to understand the most recent repair efforts to seal small leaks'. The leaks located in the aft segment of the space station's Zvezda service module, have been monitored by flight controllers for several years, Nasa said. 'Recent repair efforts by Roscosmos appear to have stabilised pressure in the transfer tunnel, though teams are still evaluating whether the leaks have been fully sealed or if air is flowing into the area from the main station,' it added. On June 18, another announcement said that the launch could happen on June 22 with a back-up date available on June 23. At present, Nasa, Axiom or SpaceX have not yet committed to a new launch date.
