New Delhi — The Axiom-4 space mission, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, has been postponed once again due to a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak discovered during SpaceX's post-static fire booster checks. SpaceX confirmed the delay and said a new launch date will be announced soon.
This marks the fourth delay for the mission, which had previously been affected by poor weather conditions. The mission will send four astronauts — from India, Poland, Hungary, and the U.S. — to the International Space Station (ISS) for 14 days. Shukla will become the first Indian on the ISS and the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission.
The Axiom-4 mission aims to conduct scientific experiments, test new space technologies, and promote international collaboration in space exploration. It is part of Axiom Space’s private space program in partnership with NASA, with plans to build a commercial space station in the future.