NASA delays Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s Axiom-4 mission to International Space Station

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.
| Photo Credit: REUTERS

NASA has delay Sunday’s (June 22, 2025) launch of the Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others to the International Space Station and a brand new date can be introduced within the coming days.

Explained | Why has the Axiom-4 mission been delayed?

“NASA has made the decision to stand down from a launch on Sunday, June 22, and will target a new launch date in the coming days,” Axiom Space stated in a press release.

The house company wants extra time to proceed evaluating International Space Station operations after latest restore work within the aft (again) most phase of the orbital laboratory’s Zvezda service module, it stated.

Because of the house station’s interconnected and interdependent programs, NASA needs to make sure the station is prepared for added crew members, and the company is taking the time mandatory to evaluate knowledge, the Axiom Space assertion stated.