Shubhanshu Shukla’s Axiom Mission 4 Delayed Again, Now Set for June 22
The Axiom Mission 4 carrying Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station has been postponed yet again, with the launch now scheduled for no earlier than Sunday, June 22. The delay marks another setback for India’s historic space mission, which has faced multiple postponements over the past month.
NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX announced the latest delay on Wednesday to allow NASA time to continue evaluating space station operations after recent repair work in the Russian section of the ISS. The mission was scheduled to launch on June 19 after previous delays from its initial May 29 launch date.
The decision to postpone the launch comes as NASA continues to assess the safety and functionality of the International Space Station following critical repair work in the aft segment of the Zvezda service module, the Russian component of the orbital laboratory.
The change in the targeted launch date provides NASA time to continue evaluating space station operations after recent repair work in the aft segment of the aging Russian module, which has experienced technical issues including coolant leaks.
Axiom Space issued an official statement confirming the delay, emphasizing that the postponement is necessary to ensure the safety and success of the mission. The company stated that all precautions are being taken to guarantee a successful launch and mission completion.
The mission has faced a series of delays since its original May 29 launch date. The June 11 launch had to be delayed first due to a fuel leak in SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket and then due to a leak in the Russian section of the ISS. Engineers discovered a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket’s boosters, which required additional time for repairs and safety assessments.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also confirmed the mission delay through an official announcement on social media platform X, keeping the public informed about the status of India’s ambitious space endeavor.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a distinguished Indian Air Force pilot and test pilot, serves as the mission pilot alongside commander Peggy Whitson from the United States. The crew also includes mission specialists Tibor Kapu from Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland.
During the mission, Shukla will conduct seven Indian-designed scientific experiments along with collaborative research projects with NASA. These experiments are expected to contribute significantly to India’s space research capabilities and international scientific collaboration.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s upcoming mission aboard SpaceX’s Dragon marks a milestone for India, coming nearly 40 years after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft. Shukla is set to become one of the few Indians to reach the International Space Station.
