Axiom-4 Mission Delayed: SpaceX Postpones Launch Carrying Indian Astronaut Shubanshu Shukla

India’s astronaut hopeful Shubanshu Shukla, along with millions of space enthusiasts across the country, will have to wait a little longer. The highly anticipated Axiom-4 mission, which was scheduled for launch today (June 11) at 5:30 PM IST, has been postponed once again due to a technical issue identified by SpaceX.

The mission, part of a private space endeavor organized by Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX, was to carry four astronauts—including IAF’s Wing Commander Shubanshu Shukla—to the International Space Station (ISS) for a 14-day stay. The team was expected to conduct numerous experiments onboard the ISS during this period.

Why was the launch delayed?

SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, announced on its official communication channels that the delay was necessary to address a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak identified during a post-static fire booster check of its Falcon-9 rocket. In a statement, the company said:

Standing down from tomorrow’s Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to the @Space_Station to allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak identified during post static fire booster inspections. Once complete – and pending Range availability – we will share a new launch date pic.twitter.com/FwRc8k2Bc0

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 11, 2025

“The Falcon-9 launch is currently delayed to allow SpaceX teams additional time to complete checkouts and address a LOx leak discovered during post-static fire testing. Once resolved and range availability is confirmed, a new launch date will be announced.”

The update was later reposted by Axiom Space, confirming the postponement of the mission.

India’s first commercial astronaut mission

The Axiom-4 mission is significant for India, as it includes the participation of Wing Commander Shubanshu Shukla, an experienced pilot from the Indian Air Force. If successful, he would become one of the first Indians to travel to space via a private commercial mission.

Along with Shukla, the crew includes three other international astronauts. Together, they were set to undertake a series of scientific experiments and technology demonstrations onboard the ISS, contributing to global space research and India's growing role in space exploration.

No new launch date yet

As of now, SpaceX has not confirmed the revised launch date. The team is actively working on resolving the technical issues, and further updates are expected in the coming days depending on safety checks and range availability.

The delay, though disappointing, underlines the complexity and safety concerns involved in human spaceflight. For now, India and the world await the green signal for one of the most anticipated commercial space missions of 2025.