A Falcon 9 rocket stands at the pad before its upcoming launch of the Axiom-4 crewed mission to the International Space Station at Launch Complex 39-A in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., June 10, 2025.
| Photo Credit: STEVE NESIUS
Bengaluru
The launch of Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has once again been postponed, this time due to a glitch in the ISS.
NASA said that it, along with Axiom Space, is postponing the launch of Axiom Mission 4 to the ISS.
As part of an ongoing investigation, NASA is working with Russia’s space agency Roscosmos to understand a new pressure signature, after the recent post-repair effort in the aft most segment of the ISS’s Zvezda service module.
According to NASA, “Cosmonauts aboard the space station recently performed inspections of the pressurized module’s interior surfaces, sealed some additional areas of interest, and measured the current leak rate. Following this effort, the segment now is holding pressure.”
Postponement of Axiom Mission 4 provides additional time for NASA and Roscosmos to evaluate the situation and determine whether any additional troubleshooting is necessary.
NASA deferred to Roscosmos to answer specific questions about the Zvezda module. A new launch date for the fourth private astronaut mission is yet to be decided.
The crew of the Axion-4 mission was scheduled to lift off aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
ISRO Chairman Dr Dr. V. Narayanan said that it i is working closely with the other agencies involved in the mission as they responsibly address the ISS Zvezda module observation causing the Ax‑4 delay. “Safety and mission integrity remain our top priorities,” Dr. Narayanan said.
Timeline of developments related to launch
1. The launch originally scheduled on May 29 was deferred due to observation in electrical harness in Crew Dragon Module, launch rescheduled to June 8
2. The launch was postponed by one day to June 9 due to delay in preparedness of the Falcon 9 vehicle for the launch.
3. The launch was further postpone to June 10 due to unfavourable weather in the ascent corridor.
4. Additional observation of oxygen leakage in the engine bay was observed during the preparation for hot fire test conducted on June 8. Moreover, there was an observation of an anomaly in one of the engine actuators, which was replaced along with the controller.
5. Anticipating quick resolution of LOX leak issue, the launch was rescheduled to June 11.
6. During the appraisal of technical issues by Axiom & SpaceX to ISRO delegation on June 10, ISRO recommended carrying out in-situ repairs, or replacement, and conduct a low-temperature leak test to validate system performance and integrity, before proceeding with launch clearance.
7. On June 11, NASA informed that they are working with Roscosmos to evaluate a new pressure signature indicating a leak in the aft most segment of the ISS Zvezda Russian service module, after the recent repair attempt. In order to assess the situation and determine the need for further troubleshooting, the launch of Axiom-4 mission is being postponed.
Published – June 13, 2025 09:53 am IST