SpaceX Vice President of Build and Flight Reliability, William Gerstenmaier, emphasized the company’s ongoing commitment to safety and innovation as it prepares for the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission launch, now scheduled for June 11, 2025. The mission, featuring astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary, marks a significant milestone in global space collaboration.
Speaking at a post-launch readiness review, Gerstenmaier noted that SpaceX has implemented key upgrades to the Dragon capsule, particularly to its propulsion components. “This isn’t just the same Dragon capsule you’re flying. We’ve actually made some improvements and made it better to continue to keep flying safe,” he said.
He highlighted that while SpaceX is pacing toward a record year, aiming for 170 orbital missions in 2025, the focus remains on learning from each launch. “It gives us the opportunity to review data regularly, look for small things, fly things, improve things, and continue to fly safely,” he added. Gerstenmaier also thanked the mission partners — India, Poland, and Hungary — for their trust and collaboration.
Weather remains a key factor in the mission timeline. Jimmy Taeger, Launch Weather Officer with the US Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron, reported fluctuating weather conditions in Central Florida due to a shifting high-pressure system. While winds are expected to improve mid-week, the chance of isolated showers may impact launch windows.
Due to these conditions, the Ax-4 launch was postponed from June 10 to June 11. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed the rescheduled launch on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Due to weather conditions, the launch of Axiom-4 mission for sending Indian Gaganyatri to International Space Station is postponed from 10th June 2025 to 11th June 2025. The targeted time of launch is 5:30 PM IST on 11th June 2025,” said ISRO Chairman Dr. V Narayanan.
The Ax-4 mission is historic for multiple reasons. It includes Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will become only the second Indian astronaut to travel to space, and the first to do so since 1984. The mission also represents the first visit to the International Space Station for astronauts from Poland and Hungary, and is only the second government-sponsored human spaceflight mission for India in over four decades.
Organized by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and other international partners, the Ax-4 mission is a landmark in private and public sector cooperation in space exploration.
