The much-anticipated launch of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4 mission) to the International Space Station (ISS), featuring Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, has been postponed once again due to technical observations related to the Zvezda module of the ISS.
NASA and Axiom Space are postponing the launch of Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station.
NASA announced the delay on social media, citing safety concerns. “As part of an ongoing investigation, NASA is working with Roscosmos to understand a new pressure signature, after the recent post-repair effort in the aft most segment of the International Space Station’s Zvezda service module,” NASA said.
Cosmonauts aboard the space station recently performed inspections of the pressurized module’s interior surfaces, sealed some additional areas of interest, and measured the current leak rate. Following this effort, the segment now is holding pressure. The postponement of Axiom Mission 4 provides additional time for NASA and Roscosmos to evaluate the situation and determine whether any additional troubleshooting is necessary. NASA defers to Roscosmos to answer specific questions about the Zvezda module.
A new launch date for the fourth private astronaut mission will be provided once available.
India’s space agency ISRO also acknowledged the development and reassured its commitment to mission safety and coordination with international partners.
“ISRO is working closely with @Axiom_Space, @NASA, @SpaceX as they responsibly address the ISS Zvezda module observation causing the Ax‑4 delay. Safety and mission integrity remain our top priorities. With regards Dr. V. Narayanan, Secretary DOS/Chairman ISRO & Chairman Space Commission,” ISRO wrote in an X post.
The Ax-4 mission, operated by US-based Axiom Space, was scheduled for launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 11 at 8 a.m. local time (5:30 p.m. IST). The mission has now faced multiple delays, having initially been scheduled for May 29 and then successively postponed to June 8, June 10, and June 11.
This mission holds historic significance for India. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station and only the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma’s flight in 1984.
Shukla will serve as the pilot of the mission alongside Commander Peggy Whitson of the United States. The other crew members include Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, both serving as mission specialists.
Once aboard the ISS, Shukla will conduct pioneering experiments related to food and space nutrition. These experiments, developed under a collaboration between ISRO and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from NASA, aim to enhance understanding of sustainable life-support systems, a crucial aspect of future long-duration space travel.
Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
As international partners work to resolve the current technical concerns, a new launch date is expected to be announced soon.
