Shift in Space Launch: Record-Breaking Mission Aboard the ISS
Indian, Hungarian, and Polish Astronauts Set First Joint Journey to International Space Station (ISS)
Get ready for an exciting space adventure as the much-anticipated fourth commercial mission, dubbed "Ax-4," is set to take off on Wednesday at 14:00 CEST! This mission is set to make history by having astronauts from India, Hungary, and Poland aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time. The star-studded crew will blast off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, hitching a ride on SpaceX's trustworthy Crew Dragon spacecraft, whisked into orbit by a reliable Falcon 9 rocket. But beware, weather conditions or unforeseen complications might cause short-notice delays.
The intrepid crew comprises Indian national Shubhanshu Shukla, Hungarian Tibor Kapu, Polish national Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and a seasoned astronaut, Peggy Whitson, who's no stranger to space, having been there several times before. While Peggy has experienced extraterrestrial travels, it's clean-sheet territory for our Indian, Hungarian, and Polish rookie astronauts. They're all engineers, with Shubhanshu working for the Indian Air Force. They'll be the first representatives of India, Poland, and Hungary to set foot on the ISS, although citizens from these countries have ventured into space before, thanks to Russian Soyuz missions in the 1970s and 1980s.
Longest Commercial Spaceflight to Date
This storied voyage courtesy of Axiom Space will see the crew spending around two weeks aboard the ISS with Peggy Whitson as their commander. This marks Axiom Space's fourth commercial mission, taking place in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX. They've already embarked on their first private mission to the ISS in 2022, followed by two more in 2023 and 2024.
Their last mission, which took place in 2023, was the longest commercial spaceflight to date, lasting nearly three weeks. According to reports, such a flight is estimated to cost about 70 million euros per passenger.
Though the launch has faced delays due to unfavorable weather conditions and a liquid oxygen leak, we remain hopeful for a successful lift-off. Stay tuned for more updates!
[1] ntv.de
[2] dpa
[3] Space.com
[4] space.com
[5] NBC News
The first-time astronauts from India, Hungary, and Poland will embark on an historic journey as part of the "Ax-4" mission, launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Falcon 9. This multinational crew, including Indians Space Force engineer, Shubhanshu Shukla, will experience space travel for the first time, marking a groundbreaking moment in space-and-astronomy, technology, and general news. Upon returning from their two-week mission aboard the International Space Station, these astronauts will have contributed a significant chapter to the ongoing mission of science.
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