NASA has postponed the much-anticipated launch of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS), which was earlier scheduled for June 22. A new launch date will be announced soon, officials confirmed on Friday.
The mission, which features Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as the pilot, marks a significant milestone in international human spaceflight cooperation, involving astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary.
In a post on X, the ISS stated, “@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.”
The delay comes as NASA continues to assess recent repairs in the Zvezda service module’s aft segment. Given the ISS’s interconnected systems, the agency is conducting thorough safety checks to ensure it is fully ready to host the incoming crew.
Highlighting the global importance of the mission, ISS officials said they “appreciate the historic nature of this mission for the nations of India, Poland, and Hungary, as well as the world.”
Despite the delay, the four-member Ax-4 crew remains in quarantine in Florida and is ready for launch once clearance is received. The mission will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, a veteran NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight. Alongside Shukla, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary will serve as mission specialists.
The crew will be launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Both the rocket and capsule are in good condition, officials confirmed.
India’s Minister of State for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, had earlier stated that the launch would not occur before June 22 due to ongoing safety evaluations. “There is a safety angle involved here, and we have been informed it won’t be before the 22nd,” he said.
Dr. Singh also posted on X confirming the timeline, writing: “After assessing key parameters, including module fitness, crew health, and weather, @Axiom_Space has indicated that June 22, 2025, may be the next likely launch date of Axiom-04 Mission carrying, among others, the Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla.”
He assured that updates would follow once a final decision is made.
In a broader reflection on the Modi government’s achievements, Singh also highlighted how administrative and digital reforms over the past 11 years have had deep socio-economic impacts, especially for marginalised groups. He credited automated systems and policy transformations for improving governance and delivering justice to underserved communities.
The Ax-4 mission, once launched, will represent a significant step for India’s participation in international space collaboration and will be a moment of pride as Shubhanshu Shukla becomes one of the first Indian astronauts to visit the ISS.
