Latest news with #Roscosmos
Saba Yemen
19 hours ago
- Science
- Saba Yemen
Russia Successfully Launches "Angara-A5" Rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Moscow - Saba: The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the heavy-lift "Angara-A5" rocket was successfully launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region, carrying a spacecraft on board. "On June 19, 2025, the Angara-A5 launch vehicle, carrying a spacecraft, was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome (Arkhangelsk region) on behalf of the Russian Ministry of Defense," the statement said. The statement noted that this marks the tenth launch in the history of the Angara rocket series. Since 2014, five light "Angara-1.2" rockets and three heavy "Angara-A5" rockets have been launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Additionally, another heavy rocket was launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in April 2024. The Russian state space agency "Roscosmos" has signed a government contract with the Khrunichev Center for the production of three "Angara-A5M" rockets, which are intended for launching modules of the new Russian space station, according to a statement from the agency. The statement, dated June 6, mentioned that the upgraded version will be capable of placing spacecraft weighing up to 27 tons into orbit, compared to the standard Angara-A5, which can carry only up to 24 tons. Roscosmos also stated that the Angara-A5M will be adapted in the future for launching crewed spacecraft. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
The Hill
a day ago
- Science
- The Hill
ISS leak delays mission, raises concerns at NASA
NASA has delayed a mission due to a leak on the International Space Station as the aging space station approaches 30 years in orbit. The aerospace agency has not provided much detail on the latest leak, but it could be a serious concern for the ISS, which is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2030. This isn't the first time the ISS has sprung a leak. A slow but growing air leak in the transfer tunnel of the Russian service module has been present since 2019. The Zvezda service model is one of the oldest on the ISS, launched in 1998. The transfer tunnel connects the Zvezda module with a docking port for supplies and Soyuz crew members. Russian cosmonauts have made attempts to repair the small cracks but have only slowed the leaks, which lose about a couple of pounds of air each day. To manage the leaks, the hatch to the tunnel is kept closed except when a spacecraft docks. Roscosmos said it had completely sealed the leak in the most recent round of repairs, and NASA also said the leak rate had halted. However, the overall air pressure in the space station continued to drop, according to a report from Ars Technica. What's leading to that air loss? That's an open question, though one possibility is that the seals on the hatch to the tunnel could be leaking, feeding the tunnel with air from the rest of the space station and creating a stable pressure that would make the leaks appear to be repaired. NASA is monitoring the leak and has indefinitely delayed sending additional crew members to the ISS, pending the outcome of the issue. One worst-case scenario is that the leak is a sign of what's called high-cycle fatigue, where metal hardens through use and eventually snaps. That kind of fatigue is what led to the crash of an Aloha Airlines flight in 1988 and has recently been suggested as the cause of the Titan submersible implosion. If the leak is a result of high-cycle fatigue, it raises concerns that structures on the ISS could fail catastrophically. NASA has said the crew currently on the ISS is safe and conducting normal operations.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
ISS leak delays mission, raises concerns at NASA
(NewsNation) — NASA has delayed a mission due to a leak on the International Space Station as the aging space station approaches 30 years in orbit. NASA has not provided much detail on the latest leak, but it could be a serious concern for the ISS, which is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2030. This isn't the first time the ISS has sprung a leak. A slow but growing air leak in the transfer tunnel of the Russian service module has been present since 2019. Supernova may have caused an ice age: Study The Zvezda service model is one of the oldest on the ISS, launched in 1998. The transfer tunnel connects the Zvezda module with a docking port for supplies and Soyuz crew members. Russian cosmonauts have made attempts to repair the small cracks but have only slowed the leaks, which lose about a couple of pounds of air each day. To manage the leaks, the hatch to the tunnel is kept closed except when a spacecraft docks. Roscosmos said it had completely sealed the leak in the most recent round of repairs, and NASA also said the leak rate had halted. However, the overall air pressure in the space station continued to drop, according to a report from Ars Technica. What's leading to that air loss? That's an open question, though one possibility is that the seals on the hatch to the tunnel could be leaking, feeding the tunnel with air from the rest of the space station and creating a stable pressure that would make the leaks appear to be repaired. Moon farming may be possible thanks to Texas scientist NASA is monitoring the leak and has indefinitely delayed sending additional crew members to the ISS, pending the outcome of the leak issue. One worst-case scenario is that the leak is a sign of what's called high-cycle fatigue, where metal hardens through use and eventually snaps. That kind of fatigue is what led to the crash of an Aloha Airlines flight in 1988 and has recently been suggested as the cause of the Titan submersible implosion. If the leak is a result of high-cycle fatigue, it raises concerns that structures on the ISS could fail catastrophically. NASA has said the crew currently on the ISS is safe and conducting normal operations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Space Station leak investigation continues to shift launch date of Axiom Space crew
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – An active investigation into a leak repair on the International Space Station continues to cause Nasa to shift the launch of four private astronauts on the Axiom Space Mission 4. The Axiom Mission 4 crew was set to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft last week from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but a leak with SpaceX's rocket at the space station has delayed the private mission. Then the mission faced an additional delay after NASA said it needed more time for an ongoing investigation to understand a "new pressure signature, after the recent post-repair effort" on the space station's Zvezda service module. Roscosmos cosmonauts recently completed repair work on the service module to stop the leak, which has been monitored by flight controllers for a few years. NASA said after the repairs, the pressure remained stable in the transfer tunnel and the hatch seal between the ISS and the back of the Zvezda module. Previously, the pressure would have dropped in this area, indicating the small leaks may be fixed, according to NASA. Where'd They Go? Why June's Meteor Showers Often Vanish "Teams are making progress evaluating the transfer tunnel configuration, resulting in an updated launch opportunity for the private astronaut mission," NASA said. Axiom Space and NASA are no longer targeting a launch this week, according to the latest mission update. Axiom Space and SpaceX said the launch could happen no earlier than Sunday at 3:41 a.m. ET. There is a backup launch opportunity available at 3:20 a.m. ET Monday. Live launch coverage will begin at 1:35 a.m. ET on the social channels of both Axiom Space and SpaceX. Meanwhile, on the ground, SpaceX teams repaired the liquid oxygen leak on the Falcon 9 rocket and completed another wet dress rehearsal, clearing the way for liftoff. Second Ispace Moon Landing Attempt UnsuccessfulThe Axiom Mission 4 is commanded by Axiom Space's director of human spaceflight and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and includes Indian Space Research Organization astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, European Space Agency project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, of Poland, and Tibor Kapu, of Hungary. With the current schedule, the Dragon will dock at the ISS's Harmony module at 10:43 a.m. Monday. While on station, the 14-day private mission astronauts will conduct dozens of experiments and scientific research on the orbiting article source: Space Station leak investigation continues to shift launch date of Axiom Space crew
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Why is the International Space Station leaking? What to know after Axiom mission delayed
A leak on a remote outpost orbiting about 250 miles above Earth may sound alarming, but not to worry: The seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station are not in harm's way. But until the air leak detected on the laboratory's Russian segment is resolved, NASA has opted not to send any other people to dock at the station. That means an indefinite delay for a four-person commercial spaceflight. The postponement is nothing new for Axiom Mission 4, which has already experienced previous delays due to bad weather and issues with the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket selected to get it off the ground. Axiom Space, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is the company behind the private mission – its latest in a series of human spaceflights in partnership with both NASA and SpaceX. While the astronauts aboard the station are not in danger, small cracks on the ISS in recent years, particularly on the aging Russian segment, have contributed to the decision to retire the station by 2030. Here's what to know about the latest leak on the space station, and how it will effect the launch of Axiom Mission 4. The International Space Station has been stationed in low-Earth orbit for more than 25 years, typically about 250 miles high, where it has been home to astronauts from all over the world. The orbital laboratory is operated through a global partnership of space agencies, including NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). More than 280 spacefarers from 23 countries have visited the International Space Station, including 169 from the United States alone, according to NASA. Bigger than a six-bedroom house, the outpost has six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym and a 360-degree view bay window. The launch of the Axiom mission had already been delayed to allow SpaceX to repair a liquid oxygen leak found on the Falcon 9 rocket, NASA has said. Now, the mission is being delayed indefinitely after a "new pressure signature" was found on the station's Zvezda service module, a more than 2-decade-old core compartment, according to NASA. The discovery came after cosmonauts aboard the space station recently performed inspections of the pressurized module's interior surfaces, sealed some area and measured the current leak rate. The segment now is holding pressure, but NASA said the Axiom Mission 4 delay will provide additional time for the U.S. space agency to evaluate the leak with Roscosmos and determine next steps. NASA deferred additional questions about the leak to Roscosmos. A new launch date for Ax-4 has not yet been announced as of Friday, June 13. Axiom Mission 4, also known as Ax-4, is a commercial spaceflight venture that aims to send four private astronauts on a two-week trip to the International Space Station. Among the mission's crew are astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary who would be the first from their respective nations to ever reach the station. Under the command of former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, the crew members are due to undertake about 60 scientific experiments during their time aboard the orbital laboratory. The research was developed specifically to take place in microgravity on behalf of organizations around the world, according to Axiom Space. But the launch of the mission has undergone a slew of delays since Axiom Space was originally working toward a May 29 launch. When the crew does get off the ground, they'll be aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule that will be propelled to orbit atop a Falcon 9 rocket launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Axiom missions are also aimed at advancing the company's goals of building a space station that will attach to the ISS before its planned 2030 retirement. The missions began in 2022, with the most recent, Axiom Mission 3, taking place in January 2024. This isn't the first time the International Space Station has experienced a leak. In February 2024, an air leak in the Russian segment of the orbital laboratory known as the PrK module caused disagreement between Roscosmos and NASA about not only the cause, but how serious it was. By November, the leak was still unresolved while the two space agencies were monitoring it. The area has also been sealed from the rest of the station when crew members did not need to access the spacecraft docked at the module. Leaks of air from the cracks have been minor and posed no immediate safety threats to the station's astronauts, who patch the leaks with tape, glue and other solutions. But issues on the ISS are increasingly worrisome signs of aging. In late-2024, a NASA Office of Inspector General report even raised concerns about whether it would be safe or even affordable to operate past the station's 2030 retirement date. Seven members of Expedition 73, including three Americans, are living aboard the ISS – conducting scientific research and working to maintain the station. That includes NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain, who in May made headlines for completing a rare all-female spacewalk. The women both arrived in March 2025 with JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov as part of a NASA mission known as Crew-10. That mission also made headlines due to its role in paving the way for the NASA astronauts who crewed the doomed Boeing Starliner to depart with the Crew-9 mission. Also at the station is NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, who reached the outpost in April 2025 with cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky. Contributing: Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A portion of the space station is 'leaking.' Here's what that means.
