TYB
Happy Birthday to our POTUS and our flag.
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
June 14, 2025
Meteors and Satellite Trails over the Limay River
What are all those streaks in the sky? A galaxy, many satellite trails, and a few meteors. First, far in the distance, the majestic band of our Milky Way Galaxy runs down the left. Mirroring it on the right are several parallel trails of Earth-orbiting Starlink satellites. Many fainter satellite trails also crisscross the image. The two short and bright streaks are meteors — likely members of the annual Eta Aquariids meteor shower. The planet Venus shines on the lower right. Venus and the satellites shine by reflected sunlight. The featured picture is a composite of exposures all taken in a few hours on May 4 over the Limay River in Argentina.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4568-4569: A Close Look at the Altadena Drill Hole and Tailings
Jun 13, 2025
Earth planning date: Wednesday, June 11, 2025
As we near the end of our Altadena drill campaign, Curiosity continued her exploration of the Martian bedrock within the boxwork structures on Mount Sharp.
After successfully delivering a powdered rock sample to both the CheMin (Chemistry and Mineralogy) and SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) instruments, the focus for sols 4568 and 4569 was to take a closer look at the drill hole itself — specifically, the interior walls of the drill hole and the associated tailings (the rock material pushed out by the drill).
In the image above, you can see that the tone (or color) of the rock exposed within the wall of the drill hole appears to change slightly with depth, and the drill tailings are a mixture of fine powder and more solid clumps.
If you compare the Altadena drill site with the 42 drill sites that came before, one can really appreciate the impressive range of colors, textures, and grain sizes in the rocks that Curiosity has analyzed over the past 12 years.
Every drill hole marks a window into the past and can help us understand how the ancient environment and climate on Mars evolved over time.
In this two-sol plan, the ChemCam, Mastcam, APXS, and MAHLI instruments coordinated their observations to image and characterize the chemistry of the wall of the drill hole and tailings before we drive away from this site over the coming weekend.
Outside of our immediate workspace, Mastcam created two stereo mosaics that will image the boxwork structures nearby as well as the layers within Texoli butte.
ChemCam assembled three long-distance RMI images that will help assess the layers at the base of the “Mishe Mokwa” hill, complete the imaging of the nearby boxwork structures, and image the very distant crater rim (about 90 kilometers, or 56 miles away) and sky to investigate the scattering properties of the atmosphere.
The environmental theme group included observations that will measure the properties of the atmosphere and also included a dust-devil survey.
https://science.nasa.gov/blog/curiosity-blog-sols-4568-4569-a-close-look-at-the-altadena-drill-hole-and-tailings/
https://science.nasa.gov/resource/curiositys-42-drill-holes/
Taklamakan Desert, Xinjiang, China
June 13, 2025
The true-color corrected reflectance image above shows the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang region of China on June 10, 2025.
The image was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua platform.
Press the "Play" button in the lower left corner to see the movement of brown dust between June 10 and 13.
The desert is slightly smaller than Germany, covering an area approximately 320,000 km2 (123,550 sq mi). It is the world's second largest shifting sand desert, where 85% of the area is comprised of shifting sand dunes.
It is flanked by high mountain ranges including the Tien Shan to the north, the Kunlun mountains to the south, and the Pamirs to the west.
To verify the presence of the dust, the map above shows the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) Dust Score (L2, Day) layer overlaid on the true-color corrected reflectance image.
Press the "Play" button in the lower left corner to see the changes in dust between June 10 and 13.
Dust score is determined from multiple tests that compare radiances in select AIRS spectral channels.
Radiances measured in channels that are sensitive to dust are compared to radiances measured in channels that are not sensitive to dust.
The differences between several pairs of channels are represented as a dust score. Higher scores indicate more certainty that dust is present. Dust is probable when the score is above 380.
https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/news/worldview-image-archive/taklamakan-desert-xinjiang-china
E Gate
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_border_control_system
https://www.globalimmigrationblog.com/2023/02/what-travelers-need-to-know-about-electronic-e-gate-border-entry-systems/
An Iconic Brand Harkens to NASA’s Moon Landing with an Out-of-This-World Boot
June 13, 2025
Cat Inc., colloquially known as Caterpillar, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
While the brand is perhaps best known for its heavy machinery — dozers, backhoes, excavators, generators and so forth — the brand also has a healthy catalog of footwear, including everything from work boots to casual lifestyle sneakers.
As a part of its centennial celebration, the brand has launched a trio of boots inspired by the brand’s extensive history.
However, the most interesting of the three is undoubtedly the Cat Footwear Centennial Apollo 11 Boot, which honors the brand’s inexorable, essential connection to the 1969 moon landing.
The Eagle has landed
At first glance, you might think this boot is nothing more than a fun reference to a significant point in human history — one Caterpillar happened to be around for.
But there’s a far deeper connection between the brand and the Apollo 11 moon landing.
The Apollo 11 Lunar Module, called the Eagle (or LM-5), had a communications system that kept the astronauts aboard — Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins — in contact with Earth.
Ten Cat Inc. generators powered that communications system.
That means Caterpillar was instrumental in the success of NASA’s most famous mission.
As such, this boot is more than just a cute tribute; it’s a design that honors the intrepidness of everyone involved in getting American astronauts to (and from) Earth’s primary satellite.
Without Caterpillar’s reliable technology, those three astronauts might not have gone to the moon, or at least we wouldn’t have been able to stay in contact with them, increasing the risks of the mission a hundredfold.
Moon boots, literally
The footwear’s construction isn’t a gimmick, either. While they’re clearly a bit cheeky in their styling, these boots are still very much legit. For instance, the stacked, rubberized outsole is thick, but is still lightweight (even by Earth gravity standards).
Furthermore, it extends up the heel and over the toe cap, adding extra durability where it’s needed and adding further to the spacesuit-inspired styling.
Plus, down underneath, you’ll find thick, grippy all-terrain treads inspired by the brand’s heavy machinery.
Furthermore, the upper is puffy and insulated, helping to keep the wearer’s feet warm, even out of the atmosphere (probably … but maybe don’t test this claim).
It’s also equipped with a bungee-style lacing system and a velcro strap for a simple, secure fit every time you put them on.
Finally, the whole boot has been brushed to give it a dusty appearance, just like the moon boots worn by the real moon-stomping astronauts.
Finishing touches include a commemorative woven patch and a removable hangtag.
Available now
The Cat Footwear Centennial Apollo 11 boot, alongside the rest of the Centennial Collection, is available on the brand’s site now for $150. However, some sizes have already sold out.
https://www.gearpatrol.com/footwear/cat-footwear-centennial-apollo-11-boot/
Station Crew Ends Week with Half-Shift Filled with Space Research
June 13, 2025
The Expedition 73 crew wrapped up the week with another light duty day working half a shift filled with vein scans, a pharmaceutical study, and International Space Station upkeep.
NASA Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers kicked off her day with station Commander Takuya Onishi from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) taking turns operating the Ultrasound 2 device and scanning each other’s neck, shoulder, and leg veins.
Afterward, Ayers handed over the biomedical hardware to NASA Flight Engineer Anne McClain who scanned the veins of Roscosmos Flight Engineer Kirill Peskov.
Doctors on the ground monitored the regularly scheduled scans in real time checking for potential blood clots arising due to blood pooling toward a crew member’s upper body in microgravity.
Onishi and McClain then spent some time on different maintenance duties in the Quest airlock.
Onishi observed, photographed, and documented the condition and location of a variety of spacewalking tools, while McClain transferred wastewater collected from a spacesuit into a contingency water container bag.
NASA Flight Engineer Jonny Kim began his shift inside Quest searching for and locating a specialized socket that will be used on a future spacewalk.
Next, he worked inside the Destiny laboratory module installing hardware and setting up samples inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox to explore the behavior of amyloids, or protein deposits that affects organs and tissues, in weightlessness.
Results may lead to a better understanding and newer treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and promote space commercialization opportunities.
Peskov began his shift in the orbital outpost’s Roscosmos segment and attached himself to a device that applies a known force to a crew member and uses the resulting acceleration to accurately calculate mass.
After his vein scans, Peskov worked in the Zarya module and cleaned life support equipment and checked lighting systems.
Veteran space station resident and cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov spent his half-day in Zarya organizing electronics hardware to create more stowage space.
First-time space-flyer cosmononaut Alexey Zubritskiy transferred fluids from the station into the Progress 90 cargo craft’s tanks then copied science data collected from a protein crystallization investigation to a flash drive.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/06/13/station-crew-ends-week-with-half-shift-filled-with-space-research/
NASA’s Artemis Science Team Inaugurates Flight Control Room
June 13, 2025
In early June, NASA’s Artemis II lunar science team ran a mission simulation for the first time in the newly completed Science Evaluation Room (SER) at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The team of scientists used the simulation to test how they will work together to lead lunar science activities during Artemis II and future crewed missions to the Moon.
The inaugural simulation marked a major milestone for Artemis science operations. Located in the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center, the SER supports the mission’s main flight control room for lunar science and planetary observations.
Built specifically for Artemis missions with these science priorities in mind, the SER is equipped to support rapid data interpretation, collaborative analysis, real-time decision making, and seamless coordination between the science and operations teams.
“Embedding science directly into the mission operations environment ensures NASA can maximize Artemis discoveries,” said Kelsey Young, NASA’s Artemis II lunar science lead and lead science officer at the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
“Seeing the SER and collaborative teams function so beautifully after years of planning and testing makes me even more excited for the science we will accomplish when we return to the Moon.”
Artemis II astronauts will observe the Moon during their 10-day mission around the Moon and back, taking photographs and verbally recording what they see.
Their observations will support science objectives and provide data for potential landing sites for future Moon missions.
While the team has run previous simulations, this was the first time they focused on lunar science and planetary observations in the actual rooms they will use during Artemis missions.
This gave them the opportunity to test technologies, processes, and the setup of the science support rooms in a real-world scenario. The science team tested processes for prioritizing imaging targets, creating a timeline for observations, and processing incoming data in real time.
The SER’s innovative layout is designed to enhance collaboration and decision making. A large touchscreen table sits front and center in the room as the home base for the scrum team, a small group of scientists focused on making sure specific science objectives are met.
Surrounding the scrum in a U-shape is the “trench,” home to experts in data visualization, geography, crew imagery, and timeline management. Behind the trench is a row for science operations support team leadership.
First is the SER lead, who manages the activities of the room. Next is the SER Com, the sole person who communicates out of the room to the Science Officer in the Flight Control Room of Mission Control.
Additional stations support the Crew Lunar Observations team and IT asset management.
Beyond its technical capabilities, the SER also incorporates visual design elements meant to inspire.
A bold blue line near the ceiling symbolizes Earth, while the room’s carpeting – patterned in gray, blue, and red – depicts a two-dimensional projection of the crystalline structure of anorthite, the Moon’s dominant mineral.
Together, they give the sensation of standing on the Moon while looking back at Earth.
Through Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2025/06/13/nasas-artemis-science-team-inaugurates-flight-control-room/
France is preparing a response to the militarization of outer space by other States
June 14, 2025 06:45
A plant for the production of a reusable launch vehicle by MaiaSpace, owned by ArianeGroup, has opened in France, said the country's Defense Minister Sebastian Lecorny.
The plant is located in Vernon, in the department of Eure in northern France, on the territory of ArianeGroup.
"In 2027, this plant will launch the first reusable European launch vehicle, which will launch more than 20 satellites a year… to provide us with sovereign and responsive access to space — an area that is increasingly militarized by our competitors and which is important for our security," the minister said on the social network X.
According to Monde, investments in the project amount to hundreds of millions of euros, part of which will be covered by the state.
Thus, the Normandy region allocates 3 million euros. The main shareholders of ArianeGroup are Airbus and Safran.
"Taking into account the military needs of the state, in the next ten years we will have to send many satellites into space," Lecorniu stressed.
As noted by Finance Minister Eric Lombar, who was also present at the opening of the plant, SpaceX founder Elon Musk "needed to put forward the idea of disconnecting Ukraine from its Starlink communication network so that we could tell ourselves in capitals, in governments that sovereignty is space."
According to the publication, it is assumed that the first stage of the launch vehicle will be able to be used up to 5 times.
With a height of 30 meters and a diameter of 3.50 meters, the Maia will consist of two main stages and one additional stage, which will provide it with a wider range of launches than the micro-launch units currently being developed in Europe, the newspaper writes.
Thus, it will be able to launch various types of satellites into orbit, from small ones for telecommunications groups to heavier vehicles designed, for example, for Earth observation, for institutional or private clients.
In March, the American edition of Politico reported that the European Union had signed an agreement with the United States to launch its satellites on SpaceX launch vehicles.
The agreement followed due to repeated delays in the commissioning of its own European launch vehicle Ariane 6.
In July 2024, ESA announced the first launch of a new European Ariane 6 launch vehicle from the Kourou cosmodrome.
The rocket launched a constellation of satellites into orbit at an altitude of 600 kilometers, including vehicles belonging to various private companies, space agencies, research institutions and universities.
The second launch, originally scheduled for the end of 2024, was postponed to the first quarter of 2025 due to a "number of deviations" noticed in the July launch, the ESA said.
After the start of the special military operation of Russia on Ukraine countries The EU has imposed sanctions on Russian companies in the space industry.
In response, Roscosmos announced the termination of cooperation in organizing launches from the Kourou cosmodrome.
https://eadaily.com/en/news/2025/06/14/france-is-preparing-a-response-to-the-militarization-of-outer-space-by-other-states
Boots on the Moon?
U.S. Army Secretary Refers to Astronaut “On the Moon Who’s a Soldier,” Igniting Secret Space Program Conspiracies
June 13, 2025
Statements by U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll this week ignited speculations on social media about what some suspected to involve secretive U.S. military operations on the Moon.
“Young Americans across the country get to see all of the amazing things that the Army has done, whether it’s helping with floods in North Carolina or wildfires in California,” Driscoll said during an appearance on Fox News.
However, it was what he said next that raised so many eyebrows.
“We talked to an astronaut yesterday who’s on the Moon who’s a soldier,” Driscoll said, “including actually going to war and fighting to defend the freedoms that are, uh, that make our nation so great.”
An Astronaut and U.S. Soldier on the Moon?
Understandably, Driscoll’s comments led to confusion online. Some media coverage of his surprising statement appeared to infer that the alleged “revelations” could point to a deeper reality, with one news source claiming that the context in which the statement was made seemed to “offer no alternative explanation for what Driscoll could have meant.”
Elsewhere, many on social media questioned whether it had merely been a slip of the tongue or if Driscoll had unintentionally leaked something more substantive.
“Did he misspeak or does he know something we don’t know?” one user posted on X.
“Did he clarify his statement later?” asked author and illustrator Adam Bray in a separate posting on X, prompting the social media site’s AI Chatbot Grok to examine whether the claim was true.
“NASA and Army websites have no mention of current lunar missions involving soldiers, and the Artemis program doesn’t indicate human presence yet,” read a response from Grok to X users asking for clarification on Driscoll’s statement.
“No clarification from Driscoll or the Army has surfaced as of June 12, 2025.”
Humans in Space: Here’s What We Know
Currently, there are only 13 humans known to be operating anywhere in space, all of which are aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Among them is U.S. astronaut Anne McClaine, who, as of the time of publication, has spent a combined total of more than 294 days in space throughout various missions.
Along with her spaceflight experience, McClain is also a colonel in the U.S. Army. She is presently serving as Commander of SpaceX Crew-10 and previously served as an Expedition 73 Flight Engineer.
According to NASA, Crew-10 is the 10th crew rotation mission of SpaceX’s human space transportation system and its 11th flight with astronauts.
Launched on March 14, 2025, 23:03:48 UTC, McClain was joined by astronauts Nichole Ayers, Kirill Peskov, and Takuya Onishi, who also support the mission.
Obviously, Driscoll’s statement on Fox News regarding an astronaut “who’s a soldier” had been referring to a call he had on Monday with McClain.
He simply misspoke by referring to her as being “on the Moon” when he had intended to convey that she is currently on board the ISS.
Secret Space Program Conspiracies
For many years, conspiracy theories involving a “secret space program” have circulated online and in popular books and documentary films, alleging that NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense may have been involved in secret space exploration efforts that have officially remained off the books.
NASA indeed collaborates with government agencies like the Department of Defense on classified space programs.
Its policies prohibit the release of classified information to the public or unauthorized individuals under past directives, namely NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) 1600.2 titled “NASA Classified National Security Information” (which can be found by searching the NASA Online Directives Information System).
While it is also true that many space launches include classified payloads, and that a limited number of contingency missions dating back to the Apollo missions were later revealed to have had classified components, most of NASA’s operations in space, including its crewed spaceflight missions, have been known to the public.
By contrast, no credible evidence supports the claims of large-scale secret operations in space, whether undertaken by NASA or any other U.S. government agencies, that align with popular conspiracy theories involving a “secret” space program.
While speaking with McClain earlier this week, Driscoll told the astronaut she had “absolutely taken the cake for having the coolest and most unique job of any soldier I’ve talked to so far.”
Although few would dispute that McClain has a very cool job, it will probably still be a while before her work with the U.S. Space Program takes her all the way to the Moon.
https://thedebrief.org/u-s-army-secretary-refers-to-astronaut-on-the-moon-whos-a-soldier-igniting-secret-space-program-conspiracies/
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/crack-on-astronaut-shubhanshu-shuklas-rocket-how-isros-intervention-averted-fatal-disaster-8667532
NDTV Exclusive: Falcon Rocket's Close Call: How ISRO Helped Prevent A Space Disaster
Jun 14, 2025 18:50 pm IST
The timely detection of a "crack in an oxidizer line" in the first stage of the Falcon-9 rocket - which will take four astronauts, including India's Shubhanshu Shukla, to the International Space Station - averted a major disaster.
The fault was observed following a demand for due diligence from the Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman, Dr V Narayanan.
The Falcon-9 rocket will carry four astronauts - part of the Axiom 4 mission - to the International Space Station, where they will spend 14 days and conduct several experiments.
The "leak" has been fixed, and the ISRO has confirmed a new launch date for the mission - June 19. The back-and-forth between the ISRO and Axiom Space continued for several days.
The mission was postponed five times before getting a new launch date.
How ISRO Played A Big Role
Experts who assessed the safety told NDTV that had the crack not been detected, the rocket could have suffered a major failure at lift off since liquid oxygen is highly inflammable.
A day before the lift off on June 10, William Gerstenmaier, Vice President for Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX said "We found a LOX (liquid oxygen) leak that was previously seen on the booster during its (Falcon-9) entry on the last mission and discovered that we had not fully repaired the booster during refurbishment, or we didn't find the leak and didn't get not correct it.
We have now gone out to the launch pad. We're continuing to troubleshoot that," the SpaceX official said.
"We should complete it today, and we will have that back in configuration. We are installing a purge that will essentially mitigate the leak if it continues…So we will be fully ready to go fly," Mr Gerstenmaier added,
Despite admitting to a fuel leak, the SpaceX team decided to launch the ailing rocket on June 11.
However, after learning of the "leak", ISRO chief, Dr Narayanan, strongly disagreed with the decision and demanded full correction, with validation by proper tests, including low-temperature leak tests.
His insistence on due diligence to rectify the leak forced the SpaceX team to call off the launch on June 11.
SpaceX teams went back to the launch pad and carried out inspections, which led to a surprise and shocking detection of a "weld crack" - A big flaw in one of the liquid oxygen lines.
This crack had gone unnoticed, even though the first stage is a recycled and refurbished one.
The cracked portion has been replaced after Dr Narayanan's insistence, and adequate tests have been carried out on the health of the repaired system.
Today, ISRO said, "During a follow-on coordination meeting between ISRO, Axiom Space, and SpaceX, it was confirmed that the liquid oxygen leak observed in the Falcon 9 launch vehicle has been successfully resolved."
NDTV requested a response from SpaceX, asking several questions via email, which remain unanswered. NDTV even tweeted to SpaceX, seeking answers to the questions emailed to them, but got no response. Emails sent to Axiom Space seeking more clarity remained unanswered, too.
However, in an oblique admission and acknowledgement of the role played by ISRO in averting a near disaster while ensuring safety, Mr Kam Ghaffarian, Executive Chairman, Axiom Space, on Thursday said, "We appreciate all the incredible work of our customers, NASA, and SpaceX on this Mission.
This is the right thing to do for Axiom Space, for NASA, and our customers. We will continue to work with all of our partners to finalise a new launch date and look forward to flying the Ax-4 Mission soon."
Earlier, ISRO stated that "During the appraisal of technical issues by Axiom and SpaceX to the ISRO delegation on June 10, ISRO recommended to carry out in-situ repairs or replacement and conduct a low-temperature leak test to validate system performance and integrity, before proceeding with launch clearance."
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A highly qualified 13-member ISRO team, stationed at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, was not convinced by the "band-aid-like" solution of a 'purge' offered by SpaceX on the oxidiser line leak.
In a statement, ISRO Chairman, Dr V Narayanan, stated, "As part of launch vehicle preparation to validate the performance of the booster stage of the Falcon-9 launch vehicle, a seven-second hot test was carried out on the launch pad.
It is understood that LOX leakage was detected in the propulsion bay during the test. Based on the discussion on this topic by the ISRO team with the experts of Axiom and SpaceX, it has been decided to correct the leak and carry out necessary validation tests before clearing for the launch."
The ISRO chief is a top expert on liquid engines and was part of the team that helped India build a cryogenic engine. He is aware of the risks of a liquid oxygen leak.
Sources told NDTV that the Hungarian and Polish teams supported the stand taken by the Indian delegation. The leadership of Axiom Space is also relieved by the 'Safety-first, Launch-later' stand taken by ISRO.
The Indian space organisation's handling of the situation is appreciated by many at Cape Canaveral.
The cracked line has since been replaced, but Dr Narayanan asserts that "safety and mission integrity remain our top priorities". Experts say the crack could have fractured the fuel line since massive vibrations take place at liftoff.
Observers, not party to the Axiom-4 mission, told NDTV, it is probably the first time someone has taken on the formidable SpaceX.
The American aerospace expert suggested that SpaceX did not realise that India's space agency was headed by a technical expert and not a politician.
Axiom-4 Mission And India's Stake
India is a stakeholder in the mission after it purchased a seat on the Axiom-4 mission for Rs 550 crores.
It seeks to mitigate all risks for the crew of Commander Peggy Whitson from the US, pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India, and mission specialists, Slawosz Uzananski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.
An expert from Florida said, "All four lives are equally important; a human-rated rocket has to be handled differently and not with quick fixes that are not fully validated, as was being provided by SpaceX."
At one stage, the Indian delegation was ready to pull out Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from the mission if SpaceX had not carried out the corrections.
India's Science Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh, supported ISRO's decision and said, "Safety, precision, commitment to excellence were paramount since a liquid oxygen (LOX) leak was detected during a seven-second hot test of Falcon 9's booster. After a joint review by ISRO, Axiom & SpaceX teams, it was decided to rectify the issue & revalidate before lift-off."
Yesterday, SpaceX said, "Falcon 9 wet dress rehearsal is complete. We'll continue to work closely with NASA and Axiom Space to determine the best launch opportunity for Dragon and the Ax-4 crew to the Space Station."
A source in Axiom Space said, "A wet dress rehearsal is a pre-launch test where the Falcon-9 is fully fuelled with liquid propellants, simulating a launch countdown, but without actual engine ignition. We are still standing by for a launch date. This is just ensuring readiness for the vehicle."
SpaceX said that it has completed 500 launches of the Falcon-9 rocket, which has a 99.6% success record, but others point out that the Falcon rocket has had just 10 human space flights, all successful, but still a tiny legacy compared to the Russian Soyuz rockets and the Space Shuttle.
The Falcon-9 rocket stands tall on Pad 39-A, the same pad used by Astronaut Neil Armstrong for his moon landing. India's Astronaut Group Captain Shukla and three other crew members are still in quarantine awaiting the launch date.
Meanwhile, in a separate headache of a 'pressure issue' on the International Space Station, ISRO said, "Axiom Space informed that they are working closely with NASA to assess the pressure anomaly in the Zvezda Service Module on board the International Space Station."
If the launch does not happen on June 19, then the window is still open till June 30.
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