Axiom-4 mission carrying India’s Shubhanshu Shukla reschedules launch — here’s why it was delayed

AX-4 Crew (Image: Axiom Space)

Axiom Space is now targeting Sunday, 22 June, for the launch of Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station. The company confirmed the revised date in a post on X after a delay due to safety concerns.

The change allows NASA to continue assessing space station operations following recent repair work in the aft segment of the Zvezda service module.

The Ax-4 mission will lift off aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. Despite the delay, the mission remains significant for its international crew and milestones.

Crew in Quarantine, Await Launch

Axiom Space announced that the Ax-4 crew remains in quarantine in Florida, following all medical and safety protocols. “The #Ax4 crew remains in quarantine in Florida to maintain all medical and safety protocols. The crew is in good health and high spirits and looks forward to launch,” the company said in a post on X.

The #Ax4 crew remains in quarantine in Florida to maintain all medical and safety protocols. The crew is in good health and high spirits and looks forward to launch! https://t.co/0HLGPhJm0I pic.twitter.com/aCdmj2In03
Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) June 18, 2025

The crew includes Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and Axiom’s director of human spaceflight, as commander. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Space Research Organisation will serve as pilot. European Space Agency project astronauts Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary will join as mission specialists.

Why Axiom-4 mission is delayed

The Axiom-4 mission has faced five delays since its initial May 29 launch date. Causes include issues with Crew Dragon’s electrical harness, Falcon 9 rocket readiness, poor weather, a liquid oxygen leak, and a fault in the ISS’s Russian module. On June 10, ISRO advised repairs and testing before launch. The mission, involving India’s Gaganyatri astronaut, was most recently pushed from June 11 after multiple technical and safety concerns emerged during final checks with SpaceX and NASA.

Historic Mission for India, Poland and Hungary

The Ax-4 mission marks the first time astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary will fly to the space station. It is also the second government-backed human spaceflight for these countries in over 40 years, according to Axiom Space.

Group Captain Shukla is set to become India’s second national astronaut to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984. His participation marks a renewed chapter in India’s international space collaboration.

Axiom Space noted the mission will “realise the return” of these nations to human spaceflight, reinforcing global cooperation in commercial and national space programmes.