Axiom-4 Mission Faces Further Delays Amid Ongoing ISS Leak Investigation and Rocket Repairs
Axiom-4 Mission Faces Further Delays Amid Ongoing ISS Leak Investigation and Rocket Repairs
The highly anticipated Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) private astronaut flight to the International Space Station (ISS) has encountered additional delays, with NASA and Axiom Space now targeting a launch no earlier than this coming Sunday. The latest setbacks stem from an ongoing investigation into a leak repair on the ISS’s Zvezda service module and recent technical issues with the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Originally slated for launch last week, the Ax-4 mission, which includes four private astronauts, was first pushed back due to a liquid oxygen leak detected on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. While SpaceX teams at Kennedy Space Center have since successfully repaired the rocket and completed a wet dress rehearsal, clearing it for flight, a more complex issue has emerged on the orbiting laboratory.
NASA announced that it requires more time for an intensive investigation into a “new pressure signature” observed within the ISS’s Zvezda service module. This development follows recent repair work by Roscosmos cosmonauts aimed at fixing a long-monitored leak. Although initial reports indicated stable pressure in the transfer tunnel and hatch seal post-repair – a positive sign that the small leaks might be resolved – the new pressure data necessitates further analysis to ensure the station’s integrity before new crew arrivals.
“Teams are making progress evaluating the transfer tunnel configuration, resulting in an updated launch opportunity for the private astronaut mission,” NASA stated, underscoring the diligent efforts underway to ensure mission safety. Axiom Space and SpaceX are now looking at a potential launch window of Sunday at 3:41 a.m. ET, with a backup opportunity on Monday at 3:20 a.m. ET. Live launch coverage is expected to begin at 1:35 a.m. ET on the social channels of both companies.
The Ax-4 mission is commanded by Axiom Space’s director of human spaceflight and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. She will be joined by Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Space Research Organization, European Space Agency project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Once launched, their Dragon spacecraft is slated to dock with the ISS’s Harmony module on Monday, where the crew will embark on a 14-day mission conducting dozens of scientific experiments and research projects.
These ongoing technical and investigative efforts highlight the complexities inherent in spaceflight, even as the private sector continues to push the boundaries of human space exploration.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.