Axiom-4 Launch Carrying Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Rescheduled To 22 June

The launch of the Axiom-4 mission, which includes Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, has been postponed once again.

According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the new expected launch date is 22 June 2025.

As per a report by Indian Express, the revised date was set after discussions between ISRO, Poland, and Hungary with Axiom Space.

The final decision also involved consultations with NASA and SpaceX and a review of weather conditions along the flight path.

This is the fifth time the expedition has been postponed.

Group Captain Shukla will be flying alongside astronauts Peggy Whitson (USA), Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary) aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched by the Falcon-9 rocket.

The mission faced repeated delays due to technical issues, including an electrical harness problem on the spacecraft, a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon-9, and leaks in the Zvezda module of the International Space Station (ISS).

ISRO confirmed that the new date was based on the readiness of the spacecraft and launch vehicle, repairs at the ISS, favorable weather, and the health status of the quarantined crew.

This mission marks a milestone for India, as Shukla will become the first Indian to visit the ISS and the second Indian astronaut in space after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission aboard the Soviet Salyut-7.

During his time on the ISS, Shukla will conduct seven Indian scientific experiments, join international ones, and engage with students, researchers, and space professionals.