Jun 20, 2025 | India’s long-anticipated second human spaceflight has hit another roadblock. Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) — the private spaceflight mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) — has been delayed for the seventh time, with no new date announced yet.
The lift-off, which was previously targeted for Sunday, June 22, has been postponed indefinitely due to ongoing operational and safety concerns being addressed at the ISS, NASA confirmed late Thursday night.
“@NASA, @Axiom_Space, and @SpaceX continue reviewing launch opportunities for Axiom Mission 4. NASA is standing down from a launch on Sunday, June 22, and will target a new launch date in the coming days,” the ISS said in an official statement.
Shubhanshu Shukla, who is set to become the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma (1984), will serve as pilot for the commercial mission. The mission will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and current Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom.
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Despite the delay, the Ax-4 crew remains in good health and high spirits. A spokesperson from Axiom Space in Houston told NDTV:
“I talk to them frequently and they are doing just fine. They are healthy and in good spirits. They trust the process and the decision making.”
The current launch window remains open until June 30. If the lift-off cannot occur within this timeframe, the next opportunity will be in mid-July.
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The crew has been under quarantine since May 14 in Florida to follow medical and safety protocols, staying mission-ready as they await the green light from NASA and partners.
Ax-4 is being launched by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX, representing a new chapter in international commercial spaceflight. Once launched, Shukla’s mission will mark a monumental milestone for India, breaking a four-decade hiatus in crewed space exploration.
Shubhanshu Shukla, Axiom Mission 4, NASA SpaceX ISS, India in Space, Peggy Whitson, Space Mission Delay, ISRO Astronauts, Ax-4 Update
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