Shubhanshu Shukla's Historic Axiom-4 Mission to ISS Delayed: What You Need to Know

Delay in Axiom-4 Mission Launch

New Delhi: The launch of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has been rescheduled to June 22. This decision was made to give NASA additional time to assess operations on the orbital laboratory following recent repairs in the Russian segment, as announced by Axiom Space on Wednesday.

Initially, the Axiom-4 mission was set to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 19, utilizing SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. Axiom Space stated, "NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are now aiming for a launch no earlier than Sunday, June 22, for the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS, Axiom Mission 4."

The adjustment in the launch schedule allows NASA to continue its evaluation of the space station's operations after repair work was conducted on the aft section of the ISS's Zvezda service module.

This commercial mission is commanded by Peggy Whitson, with Shukla serving as the mission pilot, alongside Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu and Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski as mission specialists.

Originally slated for May 29, the mission faced multiple delays, first moving to June 8, then June 10, and finally June 11, due to a detected liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon-9 rocket's boosters and additional leaks in the aging Russian module of the ISS.

Axiom Space confirmed on X that the #Ax4 crew is currently in quarantine in Florida to adhere to all medical and safety protocols, stating that the crew is in good health and high spirits as they await the launch.