Axiom Mission 4 Postponed Again; New Launch Date to Be Announced Soon

NASA has delayed the much-anticipated Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station (ISS), which includes Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. The launch, earlier scheduled for Sunday, June 22, will now take place on a later date yet to be announced.

In a post on social media, the ISS confirmed that NASA is "standing down" from the planned launch and that a new date will be shared soon. The delay comes as engineers assess recent repair work on the space station's Russian Zvezda module. Given the complex systems aboard the ISS, NASA is taking extra time to ensure everything is safe before the arrival of the new crew.

Axiom Mission 4 is a globally significant mission, involving astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary. The four-member team is currently in quarantine in Florida and ready to go as soon as the green light is given.

Leading the mission is veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, now with Axiom Space. Indian Air Force pilot and ISRO representative, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, will serve as the mission’s pilot. The other crew members are ESA’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

The launch will use SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft, which are in good condition and stationed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
India’s Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh earlier stated that the mission will not launch before June 22, adding, “There is a safety angle also involved here.” He later posted on X (formerly Twitter) that June 22 remains the earliest possible date, pending final assessments.

Dr. Singh also took the opportunity to highlight the Modi government's achievements on its 11th anniversary, saying that recent administrative reforms had brought both better governance and socio-economic benefits. He said efforts like digital governance had improved the ease of living for ordinary citizens and ensured justice for marginalised communities.

Also Read: SpaceX Delays Ax-4 Mission Due to Oxygen Leak