SpaceX Prepares for Ax-4 Mission to the International Space Station
SpaceX, in collaboration with Axiom Space and NASA, is gearing up for the Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) with a new launch date set for Thursday, June 19. This rescheduled launch comes after addressing technical challenges, including repairs to small leaks in the ISS’s Zvezda service module.
The delay from the original launch date of June 12 allowed teams to assess and rectify the leaks in the Zvezda module, specifically in the aft segment. These leaks have been a long-standing concern for NASA and Roscosmos, with recent repairs indicating a potential seal on the leaks.
Following the repair work, stable pressure has been observed in the transfer tunnel, suggesting positive progress in resolving the leaks. Teams are closely monitoring the pressure in the tunnel and the hatch seal between the space station and the Zvezda module to ensure the safety and integrity of the ISS.
Additionally, SpaceX has successfully fixed a liquid oxygen leak discovered during post-static fire inspections of the Falcon 9 rocket. A wet dress rehearsal has been completed to confirm the readiness of the rocket for the Ax-4 mission. This mission marks Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut trip to the ISS and will be launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida using a Falcon 9 rocket with a new Crew Dragon capsule.
William Gerstenmaier, SpaceX’s vice president of build and flight reliability, expressed confidence in the upgraded Dragon capsule, highlighting improvements in storage, propulsion components, and seat lash design for enhanced reliability and reusability.
The crew for the Ax-4 mission is led by Peggy Whitson, Axiom Space’s director of human spaceflight and former NASA astronaut. The international crew includes ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla as pilot, along with mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, emphasizing Axiom’s commitment to global collaboration.
During the Ax-4 mission’s stay on the ISS, significant scientific research will be conducted to support Axiom’s vision of establishing a commercial space station. The mission’s updated launch date and successful technical resolutions position it as a pivotal step in advancing private space exploration and fostering innovation in the realm of space-based research.