The much-anticipated space mission featuring Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has been rescheduled for launch on June 19, 2025, after a technical issue forced a delay earlier this month. Originally set to launch on June 10, the mission was postponed due to a liquid oxygen leak detected in the booster of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
Following a detailed investigation and repair effort by experts from ISRO, Axiom Space, and SpaceX, the leak was successfully fixed, and the rocket has now cleared all safety checks. Axiom Space confirmed that the issue has been resolved, with the booster undergoing additional inspections to ensure mission readiness.
Shukla will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a Falcon 9 rocket and the Crew Dragon spacecraft, accompanied by three other astronauts. The mission, dubbed Ax-04, will focus on scientific experiments and studying human life in microgravity environments.
This launch marks yet another step in growing international collaboration in space exploration, with India, the United States, and private space firms working together. The Ax-04 mission has experienced multiple delays—first in May 2025 due to poor weather, and again in June due to the technical anomaly.
In a parallel development, Axiom Space and NASA are also monitoring a pressure irregularity in the Nauka module—a Russian segment of the ISS. While the anomaly is not currently seen as a threat, precautionary measures have been initiated to maintain onboard safety.
With all systems now cleared for launch, Shubhanshu Shukla’s mission is poised to make history as another significant milestone in India’s growing presence in space exploration.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)