The much-anticipated launch of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla aboard the Ax-4 mission has been delayed once again, marking the seventh postponement of this historic flight. Originally scheduled for May 29, 2025, the mission has faced a string of technical, operational, and weather-related issues. The latest delay, announced by NASA, cites concerns related to recent repairs on the International Space Station (ISS).
The 14-day commercial mission, led by Axiom Space, was most recently expected to liftoff on June 22 from Florida. However, NASA pulled the plug, stating that it needs additional time to evaluate operations aboard the ISS following maintenance on the aft segment of the Zvezda service module.
According to NASA, because of the station’s highly interconnected systems, a thorough review is essential before accepting new crew members. "The space agency needs additional time to continue evaluating International Space Station operations after recent repair work," NASA said in a statement. The crew, including Shukla, remains in quarantine and ready to launch once the space station is declared safe for additional occupancy.
Mission Leadership and Indian Involvement
The Ax-4 mission will be commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, now director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space. Shubhanshu Shukla, representing the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will serve as the mission's pilot. The crew also includes ESA astronaut Sawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Hungary's Tibor Kapu.
For India, this mission is particularly significant, as it marks the country's return to human spaceflight after more than four decades. ISRO is closely monitoring developments and is preparing to replace biological samples and experimental kits scheduled to fly with Shukla. The Indian astronaut is expected to conduct seven scientific experiments aboard the ISS, contributing to over 60 planned studies during the mission.
Delays Stack Up Amid Ongoing Issues
Ax-4’s launch timeline has become increasingly complex. Initially set for May 29, the mission was postponed to June 8 due to issues with the Crew Dragon spacecraft’s electrical harness. That was followed by more delays caused by Falcon 9 rocket readiness and poor weather conditions.
On June 8, an oxygen leak and engine actuator anomaly led to further inspection and component replacement. Launch dates were then shuffled from June 11 to 12, and finally to June 22, only to be indefinitely delayed again due to leaks found aboard the ISS. ISRO and Axiom remain optimistic about the mission's eventual success, but NASA has yet to announce a new launch date. The space community continues to await the next update on when Shukla and his team will begin their groundbreaking journey into orbit.
