Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India]: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed its close coordination with Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX following the postponement of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS).
The delay, announced by SpaceX on June 11, 2025, was necessitated due to the need for additional time to address a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak detected during post-static fire booster inspections of the Falcon 9 rocket.
“Standing down from tomorrow’s Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to the @Space_Station to allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak identified during post static fire booster inspections. Once complete — and pending Range availability — we will share a new launch date,” SpaceX stated on X (formerly Twitter).
ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space, V Narayanan, reiterated that mission safety and integrity remain the top priority. In a post on X, ISRO said, “ISRO is working closely with Axiom Space, NASA, SpaceX as they responsibly address the ISS Zvezda module observation causing the Ax-4 delay. Safety and mission integrity remain our top priorities.”
The Ax-4 mission was originally slated for launch on June 11, 2025, and is historic for India as it features Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will become the country’s second astronaut in space after Rakesh Sharma’s mission in 1984.
In addition to India, the Ax-4 mission includes crew members from Poland and Hungary, marking the first space station missions for these countries and their return to government-sponsored human spaceflight after four decades.
Axiom Space noted that the Ax-4 mission represents a major milestone in international space cooperation. “The Ax-4 mission will realise the return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, marking each nation’s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years,” the company said in a statement.
Despite the delay, ISRO, NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom Space remain committed to ensuring the mission proceeds safely and successfully. A revised launch date is expected to be announced once technical concerns are resolved and range availability is confirmed.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s inclusion marks a key moment in India’s expanding space collaboration with international partners, especially as ISRO prepares for its indigenous Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.