Launch Of Axiom-4 Mission Carrying Indian Astronaut Delayed Again: What’s Going On?

The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, carrying Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS), has been delayed once again. Initially postponed due to bad weather, the launch now stands deferred indefinitely after a liquid oxygen leak was detected in SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, according to media reports. A new launch date is yet to be announced.

What led to the second delay of the Ax-4 launch?

According to statements shared by SpaceX and Axiom Space on social media, the postponement was necessitated by a leak in the liquid oxygen (LOx) system of the Falcon 9 rocket. The anomaly was detected during a routine post-static fire inspection of the booster stage.

SpaceX has opted to delay the launch to allow sufficient time for repairs and validation.

What have the companies said publicly?

In a message posted on X, Axiom Space confirmed the delay and said the teams are working on rectifying the issue.

“Standing down from the Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to the Space Station to allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak,” the company stated, adding that the next launch opportunity would be announced based on technical clearance and Range availability.

What is India’s involvement in this international spaceflight?

As per media reports, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has partnered with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the Ax-4 mission and has invested over ₹550 crore in the project.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, one of four astronauts trained for India’s indigenous Gaganyaan programme, has been assigned as the pilot for Ax-4, making him the first Indian to perform this role in orbit.

What will Shukla’s role involve?

Group Captain Shukla will be tasked with piloting the spacecraft and performing docking operations with the ISS during the 14-day orbital mission. While Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to travel to space in 1984, Shukla is the first to take on an operational role as a pilot aboard a commercial spaceflight.

Who are the other crew members?

According to details released by Axiom Space, the crew consists of:
• Peggy Whitson (United States): Mission Commander
• Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland): Project Astronaut
• Tibor Kapu (Hungary): Project Astronaut
• Joy: A plush swan toy acting as a zero-gravity indicator

All crew members are undergoing final preparations, including medical isolation, technical drills, and splashdown simulations.

What scientific work is planned during the mission?

The Ax-4 team is expected to carry out 60 scientific experiments aboard the ISS. Of these, seven are led by Group Captain Shukla. The research spans a broad spectrum, ranging from human physiology and biology to artificial intelligence (AI), materials science, and endurance studies in microgravity.

Media reports indicate that these experiments involve collaboration with institutions from 31 countries, including India, the United States, Hungary, Poland, Brazil, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and several European nations.

Why is the mission historically significant?

The Ax-4 mission represents the first government-backed human spaceflight in over four decades for India, Poland, and Hungary. Axiom Space described it as a landmark moment for all three nations, highlighting that this is their second-ever human spaceflight and their first participation in a joint mission to the ISS.