Following several postponements due to technical malfunctions and inclement weather, Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission is finally on its way to carrying Indian Air Force test pilot and ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS).
Launch has now been scheduled for June 22 at 1:12 pm IST from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
The Ax-4 mission itself was originally set for May 29, 2025, but was beset by a chain of delays. The launch was initially delayed to June 8 due to electrical harness concerns with the Crew Dragon.
Additional delays came on June 9 due to readiness issues with the Falcon 9 rocket, and June 10 due to adverse weather in the ascent corridor.
Pre-launch tests on June 8 also revealed an oxygen leak and an actuator problem, which needed parts to be replaced before rescheduling to June 11. A last-minute delay happened on June 12 due to a pressure leak in the ISS.
The space agency, NASA, indicates that the recent shift in launch timing provides for continued operations and repair analysis aboard the station to continue. “It is not unusual for the agency and its global partners to make changes to launches based on shifting operations on board the space station,” NASA said.
“Teams are making headway on assessing the transfer tunnel configuration, leading to a new launch opportunity for the private astronaut mission,” according to NASA.
The Ax-4 mission, which is commanded by Axiom Space, will be commanded by Axiom’s director of human spaceflight and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson.
The mission pilot will be Shubhanshu Shukla. Joining them is European Space Agency astronaut Sawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, who will be mission specialists.
The four astronauts are in quarantine as they prepare for the trip.
For the mission, the Ax-4 crew will conduct 60 scientific experiments under microgravity. Seven of these are being conducted by Shubhanshu Shukla on behalf of India and are aimed at material science, human physiology, and future communication systems.
With the new launch date set, preparations for this ambitious commercial mission are in their final stages.
