The Ax-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has been delayed for the third time. NASA, along with Axiom Space and SpaceX, is reevaluating the launch date. The June 22 launch date has been withdrawn. The mission was originally set for June 11, but was postponed to June 19 after booster inspections. This was later rescheduled for June 22, but now a new date is under consideration.
NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are currently reviewing potential launch windows for the Axiom Mission 4. The delay allows for a closer look at the ISS’s operational status. This is particularly due to recent repair work on the Zvezda service module, located at the rear of the space station. As the station’s systems are interconnected, NASA wants to ensure everything is stable and ready for the incoming crew.
The Ax-4 mission is significant as it includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary, marking the first space station missions for each of these countries. It also represents the second human spaceflight mission backed by governments in the past 40+ years. The mission is set to undertake around 60 scientific studies and experiments involving researchers from 31 different nations, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, the UAE, and other European countries. It is considered a highly research-oriented endeavor for an Axiom Space mission.
Shubhanshu Shukla, a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, is a test pilot and astronaut. He hails from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and attended City Montessori School. Inspired by the Kargil War in 1999, he later successfully cleared the UPSC examination. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the National Defence Academy in 2005.