Weather Forces One-Day Postponement of Axiom-4; India’s Return to Human Spaceflight Marks Major Leap in Global Collaboration on ISS
New Delhi, June 10: The highly anticipated launch of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed to June 11, 2025, due to unfavorable weather conditions, according to an official announcement by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The mission, which features Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as India’s representative astronaut, will now lift off at 5:30 PM IST on June 11, ISRO confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“Launch of Axiom-4 mission to International Space Station: Due to weather conditions, the launch of Axiom-4 mission for sending Indian Gaganyatri to International Space Station is postponed from 10th June 2025 to 11th June 2025. The targeted time of launch is 5:30 PM IST on 11th June 2025,”
– Dr. V Narayanan, Chairman ISRO/Secretary DOS/Chairman Space Commission
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh also shared the update on social media, emphasizing that the delay is precautionary due to adverse atmospheric conditions. “Further updates, if any, will be accordingly shared,” he added.
A Mission of Many Firsts
The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission is historic on multiple fronts. It marks India’s return to human spaceflight after more than four decades, with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becoming the second Indian national to go to space since Rakesh Sharma’s mission in 1984.
Also on board are:
- Slawosz Uznanski, ESA project astronaut, becoming Poland’s second astronaut since 1978.
- Tibor Kapu, making history as Hungary’s second astronaut since 1980.
- Peggy Whitson, a seasoned NASA veteran and current Axiom astronaut, will command the mission. Whitson holds the record for the longest cumulative time in space by any American astronaut.
According to Axiom Space, the Ax-4 mission is the first government-sponsored human spaceflight in over 40 years for India, Poland, and Hungary, and it represents each country’s first mission aboard the ISS.
A Global Scientific Collaboration
The Ax-4 crew will conduct around 60 scientific studies and activities, spanning disciplines such as human research, Earth observation, biological sciences, and material sciences. These experiments represent contributions from 31 countries, including India, the US, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, the UAE, and several European nations.
Axiom Space emphasized that Ax-4 will be the most research-intensive mission it has conducted to date, showcasing the importance of international cooperation in low-Earth orbit (LEO) research.
“This historic mission highlights how Axiom Space is redefining access to low-Earth orbit and elevating national space programs globally,” the company said in a statement.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Speaks from the Heart
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will serve as the mission pilot, expressed his enthusiasm and gratitude ahead of the launch.
“The team that I’m flying with on this mission is fantastic. I do feel that I have exceptional crewmates. These are moments that really tell you that you are getting to be a part of something that is much larger than yourself,” he said.
He added that he hopes to inspire a new generation of Indians with his journey:
“It is my sincere endeavor through my mission to ignite curiosity among kids. Even if this story, my story, is able to change one life, it would be a huge success for me.”
As the countdown resumes for June 11 at 5:30 PM IST, the Ax-4 mission stands as a milestone in India’s expanding space ambitions and a powerful symbol of international unity through science and exploration.