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6 delays and counting: What's going wrong with Axiom-4 mission carrying Shubhanshu Shukla?
Once again, the launch of the Axiom-4 mission, which includes Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others, has been pushed back.
This is the since the mission was first scheduled to lift off on May 29.
It will now not take place on June 22 as previously planned. A new launch date is expected to be announced soon.
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The current launch window remains open until June 30. If the mission does not take off by then, the next possible window will come up in mid-July.
Why has the mission been delayed so many times? What caused each of the six postponements?
Let's take a look at the answers:
Axiom-4 mission: What's behind the repeated delays?
Axiom Space has said that Nasa has once again called off the planned launch of the Axiom-4 mission , which was scheduled for Sunday, June 22. A new launch date will be shared in the coming days.
The delay comes as the space agency continues to assess ongoing operations on board the International Space Station (ISS), following recent repair work in the rear section of the station's Zvezda service module.
Axiom Space said in a statement, 'Given the space station's complex and interdependent systems, Nasa is taking the necessary time to review data and ensure it is ready to support additional crew members.'
This is now the sixth delay since the mission was first scheduled to launch on May 29.
The mission crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson, along with specialists Tigor Kapu from Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, apart from Shukla. X/@NASASpaceOps
Here's a breakdown of what happened each time:
May 29: The launch was called off after an 'observation in the electrical harness' of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, where the crew is seated for their journey to the ISS.
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June 8: The launch was delayed by a day as the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle was not ready.
June 9: Bad weather along the rocket's ascent path led to another 24-hour delay.
June 10: An oxygen leak was found, along with an issue in one of the actuators. 'Anticipating the quick resolution of LOx (liquid oxygen) leak issue, the launch was rescheduled to June 11, 2025,' the space agency said.
June 11: Nasa said it was working with Russia's space agency to look into a 'new pressure signature,' which could point to a leak in the rear section of one of the Russian modules on the ISS.
June 19: The launch was pushed to June 22. Axiom Space said the change was to give Nasa more time to continue checks on the ISS after repairs in the Zvezda module.
June 22: The most recent delay was also linked to 'operational and safety concerns' being worked on at the ISS.
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This is now the sixth delay since the mission was first scheduled to launch on May 29. Image: Nasa
Axiom Space said in a statement that the space agency needs more time to assess operations on the International Space Station following recent repairs in the rear section of the Zvezda service module.
As the space station's systems are closely linked and rely on one another, Nasa wants to make sure it is fully prepared to support more crew members and is reviewing all necessary data, the statement added.
Axiom-4 mission: What is it? Who are the crew members?
The Axiom-4 mission will see its crew conducting nearly 60 scientific experiments during their time on the International Space Station.
Axiom Space has said that the research is specifically designed for microgravity conditions and is being carried out on behalf of organisations from around the world.
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will lead food and nutrition-related studies, developed in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from Nasa.
These experiments aim to find better ways to improve space nutrition and develop self-sustaining life support systems, both essential for future long-duration missions.
The crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson, along with mission specialists Tigor Kapu from Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, in addition to Shukla.
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This mission is India's return to human spaceflight after 41 years. The last Indian to travel to space was Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard Soviet Russia's Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.
With inputs from agencies
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