SpaceX rolls out Axiom Space Ax-4 Dragon pod to pad 39A ahead of Tuesday’s launch

SpaceX has rolled out the Axiom Space Ax-4 Dragon spacecraft to launch pad 39A in Florida in preparation for the upcoming liftoff on Tuesday.

Update: SpaceX has postponed the launch date due to vehicle inspection and repair.

Dragon has been moved to the launch pad using the transporter vehicle, where it will be placed on top of the Falcon 9 vehicle, and later it will be crewed with people to send into the orbiting laboratory.

The Falcon 9 with Axiom Space Ax-4 Dragon has a targeted launch window on June 10 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The four-member crew includes Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, who’ll command this mission. The launch date could change based on the weather condition and other factors.

On the other hand, Shubhanshu Shukla from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will participate as a pilot. The mission will also include two specialists, including ESA project astronauts Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.

Axiom Space Ax-4 Dragon spacecraft (Source: SpaceX)

SpaceX Dragon spacecraft can carry up to 7 passengers to and from Earth orbit. It has been employed for private and government missions to take astronauts to the orbiting laboratory. This spacecraft is 8.1 meters tall, 4 meters wide, 6,000kg of a launch payload mass and 3,000kg return payload mass.

The crew is scheduled to stay for two weeks on the International Space Station and conduct science, education, and commercial activities, which will conclude after Dragon undocks.

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