India’s Shubhanshu Shukla’s Ax-4 mission to launch on June 19

Following the indefinite postponement of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s Ax-4 mission, Isro has revealed the new launch date. Shukla is poised to create history as he gears up for his first journey into space on the Axiom-4 (Ax-04) mission, which is now officially slated for launch on June 19, 2025.

The mission will launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, using SpaceX’s dependable Falcon 9 rocket. The announcement of the launch date comes after an important coordination meeting involving the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Axiom Space, and SpaceX. In this meeting, officials discussed recent technical issues, particularly a liquid oxygen leak found in the Falcon 9 launch vehicle. SpaceX engineers have addressed the problem, confirming that the rocket is prepared for its upcoming challenging mission.

NASA’s recent announcement indicated that minor leaks found in the aft area of the Zvezda service module of the International Space Station have been monitored by flight controllers for several years. After the recent repairs, the pressure in the transfer tunnel has stayed stable, marking an important enhancement over earlier pressure drops that indicated persistent leaks. The space agency suggests that this stability might imply the leaks have been effectively sealed. Nevertheless, NASA teams are also exploring the idea that a small airflow from the primary station through the hatch seal into the transfer tunnel might be sustaining this pressure. Engineers are supervising and calibrating pressure to assess the condition of the tunnel and hatch seals.

Shukla, an active Indian Air Force pilot and ISRO’s latest astronaut, will participate in an international team for the Ax-04 mission. This represents an important achievement for India’s human spaceflight initiative, with Shukla joining the select group of Indians who have traveled to the International Space Station (ISS).

At the same time, Axiom Space is collaborating with NASA to investigate another matter—a pressure irregularity identified in the Zvezda Service Module on the ISS. Although this anomaly is not connected to the Ax-04 launch, it highlights the intricate coordination necessary for international space missions.

Axiom Space has guaranteed all partners that they are implementing all measures to secure crew safety and mission success. The Ax-04 mission is a component of Axiom Space’s wider aim to enhance commercial entry to low-Earth orbit and ultimately create the first commercial space station globally.

Shukla’s involvement is a significant moment for India, motivating a fresh wave of scientists and space fans. He will carry out 7 experiments created by India and will engage in additional collaborative research with Nasa on the ISS.