Indian Astronaut’s Historic Space Station Launch Postponed Due to Bad Weather
The highly anticipated launch of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, set to carry Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS), has been postponed for a third time due to bad weather at the launch site. The mission, a landmark for India’s space program, is now scheduled to lift off on Wednesday, June 11.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed the delay on Monday. “Due to weather conditions, the launch of Axiom-4 mission for sending Indian Gaganyatri to the International Space Station is postponed from 10th June 2025 to 11th June 2025,” the space agency announced. The new targeted launch time is 5:30 PM IST on June 11 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
SpaceX, the launch provider, also confirmed the delay, attributing it to high winds in the ascent corridor, underscoring the critical role weather plays in ensuring the safety of crewed spaceflights.
This latest delay marks another chapter in the mission’s journey to the launchpad. The flight was initially scheduled for May 29, then pushed to June 8, and subsequently to June 10 due to a combination of technical checks and previous weather concerns.
The mission holds immense significance for India, as it will see Shukla become the first Indian citizen to travel to space in over four decades, following in the historic footsteps of Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard a Soviet spacecraft in 1984.
Group Captain Shukla, a decorated test pilot, will serve as the pilot for the Ax-4 mission. He is part of a four-person international crew commanded by former NASA astronaut and space veteran Peggy Whitson. The crew also includes mission specialists from Poland and Hungary. They will travel aboard a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket.
Once launched, the crew will spend up to 14 days aboard the ISS, where they will conduct a wide range of scientific experiments. Many of these experiments have been developed by Indian researchers and institutions, focusing on areas like microgravity, life sciences, and space nutrition, in a collaborative effort involving ISRO, NASA, and Axiom Space.
