ISRO has confirmed that the Axiom-4 mission with astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will be launched on June 19, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Read for more details regarding the mission
After multiple delays, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed that the Axiom-4 mission—carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla—will be launched on June 19, 2025, from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Kennedy Space Center aboard a Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) Falcon 9 rocket.
Union MoS for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, said in a post on X: “The launch date of the Axiom-4 mission, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station, is, as of now, rescheduled for June 19, 2025.” He added that the SpaceX team resolved all issues that earlier led to the delays.
The Ax-4 mission witnessed multiple delays due to a Falcon 9 liquid-oxygen leak and a pressure anomaly in an ISS module. SpaceX and NASA had halted the launch to ensure all systems were fully tested and safe.
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will co-pilot the Crew Dragon spacecraft alongside mission commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski from Poland and Norbert Varga from Hungary. Over the 14-day mission, Shukla will conduct seven ISRO-led experiments, marking a significant step forward in India’s human spaceflight ambitions.
The Ax-4 launch was postponed due to technical faults and safety concerns, including issues with Crew Dragon’s electrical harness and vehicle readiness to bad weather and an oxygen leak in the ISS Zvezda module.
ISRO recommended in-situ repairs and a low-temperature leak test to ensure the system's reliability before clearing the mission for launch.
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said, “ISRO is working closely with Axiom Space, NASA and SpaceX as they responsibly address the ISS Zvezda module observation causing the Ax‑4 delay,” adding that “safety and mission integrity remain our top priorities.”
The Ax-4 mission plays a key role in preparing for ISRO’s Gaganyaan project, which aims to send three Indian astronauts into a 400-km orbit for three days. Shubhanshu Shukla’s time on the ISS is expected to give ISRO hands-on insights that will help fine-tune its human spaceflight plans, including the upcoming Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
