Washington, DC [US], June 13 (ANI): Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has raised alarm over the safety of the International Space Station (ISS), calling for its de-orbiting within the next two years due to its aging infrastructure, even as SpaceX continues to benefit financially from ISS-related missions.
“There are potentially serious concerns about the long-term safety of the @Space_Station. Some parts of it are simply getting too old, and that risk grows over time,” Musk posted on X. “Even though @SpaceX earns billions of dollars from transporting astronauts & cargo to the ISS, I nonetheless would like to go on record recommending that it be de-orbited within 2 years.”
Musk’s remarks come amid ongoing issues involving the ISS, including a delay in the highly anticipated Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), which was to carry the first Indian astronaut to the ISS in nearly four decades.
The delay follows the discovery of issues with the Russian Zvezda module and a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak in the Falcon 9 rocket. In response, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) issued a statement confirming its close collaboration with Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX.
“ISRO is working closely with Axiom Space, NASA, SpaceX as they responsibly address the ISS Zvezda module observation causing the Ax-4 delay. Safety and mission integrity remain our top priorities,” the Indian space agency posted on X.
On June 11, SpaceX officially announced the postponement of the Ax-4 mission to the ISS, citing the need for more time to fix the LOx leak detected during post-static fire booster inspections.
“Standing down from tomorrow’s Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to the @Space_Station to allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak… Once complete – and pending Range availability – we will share a new launch date,” the company stated.
Despite the setback, the Ax-4 mission remains a landmark event. It includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary—each representing their country’s return to human spaceflight after more than four decades. For India, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will become the second national astronaut to journey into space, following Rakesh Sharma’s historic mission in 1984.
Axiom Space emphasized the importance of the mission, describing it as a pivotal moment in international space collaboration. “The Ax-4 mission will ‘realise the return’ to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary,” the company said.
The delay underscores the complex challenges facing international space agencies as they manage aging space infrastructure. Musk’s call for de-orbiting the ISS adds a new dimension to the ongoing debate about the station’s future. With global stakeholders including ISRO, NASA, and private companies like SpaceX and Axiom involved, decisions about the ISS’s longevity could have far-reaching implications for the future of space exploration and international cooperation.
As ISRO, NASA, and SpaceX work to resolve the technical issues, the Ax-4 mission continues to be viewed as a significant step forward in India’s growing role in global space efforts. (ANI)
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