The highly anticipated Axiom-4 mission, which includes Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as part of its international crew, has been rescheduled for June 19, Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed on Saturday.
Taking to social media platform X, Singh, who also serves as the Union Minister of State for Space, said, “Launch date of the Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station is, as of now, rescheduled for June 19, 2025.” He also added that all technical issues that caused the earlier delay have now been resolved by the SpaceX team.
The delay was initially caused by a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak identified during post-static fire inspections of the Falcon 9 booster. SpaceX announced the postponement on June 11 to allow additional time for repairs and safety checks. The launch was originally expected earlier this month.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is working in close coordination with Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX, ensuring mission safety and integrity. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan reiterated that safety remains the top priority.
Despite the delay, the Ax-4 mission remains historic, as it features astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary—each marking their country’s first visit to the International Space Station (ISS) and the first government-backed human spaceflight mission in over four decades.
For India, Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey is especially momentous, as it will make him the second Indian national to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma’s mission in 1984.
Axiom Space highlighted that Ax-4 symbolizes a return to human spaceflight for these nations and strengthens global partnerships in space exploration.
The mission not only showcases India’s rising role in international space collaboration but also marks a significant milestone in the country’s aspirations for future human spaceflight programs.