The much-anticipated Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), which was to carry Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla into space, has once again been postponed, with no revised launch date declared. The launch, originally scheduled for Sunday, 22 June, is now deferred for the seventh time.
The delay follows a careful assessment of operations aboard the International Space Station (ISS), particularly in light of recent repair works undertaken onboard.
In a joint statement, the ISS announced: “@NASA, @Axiom_Space, and @SpaceX continue reviewing launch opportunities for Axiom Mission 4. NASA is standing down from a launch on Sunday, June 22, and will target a new launch date in the coming days.”
Shukla, an astronaut from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is designated to serve as pilot on the private commercial mission to the ISS. The Ax-4 mission is operated by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX.
Also read: Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom‑4 mission delayed once again
The mission will be commanded by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and now director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space. Alongside Shukla, the two mission specialists include Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, representing the European Space Agency.
The Ax-4 crew has been under medical quarantine since 14 May in Florida. They remain prepared to lift off once the space station gives clearance. The current launch window remains open until 30 June, with a potential backup opportunity expected in mid-July, should this window lapse.
NASA officials reiterated their commitment to safety over schedule. “Better safe than sorry,” they remarked, as all agencies involved prioritise a flawless mission and a secure docking with the ISS.
If launched, Shubhanshu Shukla would become the second Indian in history to travel to space, nearly four decades after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's landmark mission in 1984.
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