Axiom space flight tentatively scheduled for June 19 after repeated delays: Science Minister

Axiom-4 astronauts, commander Peggy Whitson of U.S., pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India, mission specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and mission specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary, are pictured on the countdown video clock, because the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands at Launch Complex 39-A after a delay of its mission to the International Space Station, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., June 9, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

(*19*)

The Axiom-4 mission, that’s set to hold Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled to take off on June 19, “as of now”, Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh mentioned at a press convention on Sunday.

This comes a day after the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had first declared after which deleted the date of the repeatedly postponed launch. On Saturday, ISRO had posted on its official channels that the liquid oxygen leak on the Falcon-9, which is meant to ferry the astronauts to the ISS, had been “successfully resolved”, and that it was trying to a “June 19th launch”. Later within the day, nonetheless, it eliminated the precise reference to the date, modifying its put up to say: “The earliest possible launch date for #Ax4 is being worked out.”

With the launch having been delayed a number of occasions already, Dr. Singh mentioned that June 19 is “being seriously considered”, however that there have been “imponderables” such because the climate and different components.

‘Mutual cooperation’ with SpaceX

In response to a query by The Hindu, the Minister performed down perceived variations between ISRO and the Elon Musk-owned SpaceX — which owns and operates the Falcon — on the menace posed by the invention of an “oxygen leak”’ throughout a engine check on June 8.

On June 10, ISRO had mentioned on its web site that it “recommended” on-site repairs or alternative and a “low temperature leak test” earlier than the automobile was cleared for launch. A media report claimed that ISRO needed to insist on such a check.

“As far as our understanding goes, there’s been an optimum amount of mutual cooperation. As soon as the leakage was pointed out, both teams joined together and agreed to address that [the leakage],” mentioned Dr. Singh, who can be the Minister-in-charge for Space.

Oxygen leak detected

The astronauts had been initially scheduled to raise off on May 29, which was postponed to June 8, then June 10, after which June 11, when SpaceX, the supplier of the launch rocket and the space capsule, detected a liquid oxygen leak within the Falcon-9 rocket.

The delays had been additionally as a consequence of a snag within the Zvezda service module aboard the ISS. Axiom, the corporate coordinating the launch, has mentioned it was “coordinating with NASA on the module anomaly”.

Former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, Peggy Whitson, will command the business mission, whereas Mr. Shukla, the ISRO astronaut, will function the pilot. The two mission specialists are European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The 14-day mission will “realise the return” to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary.