Anticipation was high for Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's much-awaited journey to the International Space Station (ISS), but the Axiom Space Axiom-4 mission has been postponed again due to a technical malfunction in SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket.
Axiom-4 Mission: Axiom Space's Axiom-4 mission, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS), has been postponed once again. The mission was scheduled for launch Wednesday evening, but the launch was delayed due to a technical malfunction in the Falcon-9 rocket. SpaceX shared this information on X (formerly Twitter).
Shubhanshu Shukla will be the first Indian to travel to the ISS through this historic mission, marking a new chapter in India's space program.
What Happened to the Mission?
The mission's launch was scheduled for Wednesday evening from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. However, a suspected leak in the rocket's engine system was discovered a few hours before launch. SpaceX's engineering team confirmed this fault during investigation, and the launch was aborted for safety reasons.
SpaceX posted on its official social media platform 'X' (formerly Twitter), stating that the Axiom-4 mission has been temporarily postponed due to a technical malfunction in the Falcon-9 rocket. Their engineering team is working to rectify the leak. A new launch date will be announced once the repairs are complete.
ISRO Also Provides Information
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also shared information on X, stating that the mission had to be postponed due to the leak detected in the Falcon-9. ISRO wrote, "The SpaceX team identified a potential leak during pre-launch checks. Considering all potential risks, the launch has been postponed for the time being."
Shubhanshu Shukla plays a crucial role in the Axiom-4 mission. He will serve as the mission pilot, alongside American veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, who is the mission commander. Other crew members include Sławosz Uznański-Wysniawski from Poland and Tibor Kápolnai from Hungary.
If successful, Shubhanshu Shukla will become the first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station on a private commercial mission. Previously, Rakesh Sharma went to space in 1984 under a Soviet mission.
Third Launch Postponement
The Axiom-4 mission has been postponed twice before. It was originally scheduled for launch on May 29, 2025, but was delayed until June 8 due to technical and weather-related reasons. A new date of June 10th was then set, and now, due to the Falcon-9 malfunction, the launch has been indefinitely postponed.
While this setback has undoubtedly caused disappointment for space enthusiasts in India and around the world, experts believe the postponement was necessary for safety. Both NASA and SpaceX are known for their strict protocols against launching despite any technical glitches.
