Washington D.C
SpaceX has delayed the launch of its Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station after detecting a liquid oxygen (LOX) leak. The mission was set to launch on June 11, 2025, carrying international astronauts, including India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.
SpaceX stated on X that more time is needed to repair the LOX leak found during a booster inspection. A new launch date will be announced after repairs and safety checks.
India’s space agency ISRO also confirmed the delay. They explained that the leak was noticed during a seven-second hot test of the Falcon 9 rocket. ISRO and SpaceX agreed to postpone the launch until the issue is fixed and all tests are successful.
The Axiom-4 mission is historic for India, Poland, and Hungary. Each country is sending a government-backed astronaut to the space station for the first time in over 40 years. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will become India’s second astronaut in space since 1984.
The mission also includes Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski, Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu, and veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson as commander.
This mission will involve 60 scientific studies from 31 countries, making it the most research-packed Axiom mission yet. The goal is to boost scientific collaboration and microgravity research.
Group Captain Shukla said he feels proud and honored to be part of such an important mission. He hopes his story will inspire children in India and spark a passion for science and space.
The mission reflects growing international cooperation in space exploration.
