Ax-4 Mission Delayed Again as ISRO, NASA, and SpaceX Work Together to Fix ISS Issue

Ax-4 Mission Delayed Again as ISRO, NASA, and SpaceX Address Technical Issue

New York, June 13:
The highly anticipated launch of the Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), which includes Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, has been delayed once more due to a technical issue involving the ISS’s Zvezda module.

NASA announced the postponement on social media, citing safety concerns.

“Together with @Axiom_Space, we are postponing the launch of #Ax4 to the @Space_Station. A new launch date will be provided once available,” NASA wrote on X.

India’s space agency ISRO also acknowledged the delay and emphasized its commitment to mission safety and international cooperation.

“ISRO is working closely with @Axiom_Space, @NASA, @SpaceX as they responsibly address the ISS Zvezda module observation causing the Ax‑4 delay. Safety and mission integrity remain our top priorities,” said ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan in a post on X.

Originally scheduled to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 11 at 8 a.m. local time (5:30 p.m. IST), the mission has now faced multiple delays. It was initially set for May 29, then moved to June 8, followed by June 10 and June 11.

The Ax-4 mission, operated by U.S.-based Axiom Space, is historic for India. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, and the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma’s flight in 1984.

Shukla will serve as the mission pilot, alongside Commander Peggy Whitson of the United States. The crew also includes Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, both serving as mission specialists.

During the mission, Shukla will carry out key experiments focused on food and space nutrition, developed in collaboration with ISRO and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from NASA. These studies aim to improve sustainable life-support systems for future long-term space missions.

A new launch date will be announced once the technical concerns are resolved.