A potentially catastrophic failure was narrowly avoided in the Axiom-4 mission, thanks to the diligence of scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The mission, which carried Indian astronaut Subhanshu Shukla and three international astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), faced a critical issue when ISRO detected a crack in the rocket’s main feed line, according to ISRO chief V. Narayanan.
Speaking at the Osmania University Convocation Address, Narayanan recounted the tense moments leading up to the mission’s rescheduled launch. On June 10, while stationed at the Kennedy Space Center in the United States, ISRO scientists identified the flaw in the rocket. This discovery prompted the postponement of the original launch date from June 11 to June 25, 2025, to allow for a thorough investigation and necessary repairs.
Narayanan, who also serves as the Secretary of the Department of Space, emphasized the gravity of the situation. “There were 14 questions asked, and none were answered satisfactorily, including the location of the leak,” he said. Drawing on his 40 years of experience, he underscored the catastrophic consequences that could have resulted had the rocket launched with the undetected leak. Following India’s insistence, a detailed probe was conducted, and the leak was fully addressed.
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The corrected rocket successfully launched on June 25, 2025, carrying Shukla, along with astronauts Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), to the ISS. The mission docked with the ISS on June 26, and the crew conducted over 60 experiments and 20 outreach sessions during their 18-day stay. The team safely returned to Earth on July 15, 2025.
Narayanan credited the success of the mission to the rigorous training and expertise of ISRO scientists, as well as the robust Indian education system. The Axiom-4 mission marks another milestone in India’s growing prominence in space exploration, highlighting ISRO’s critical role in ensuring the safety and success of international space endeavors.
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