The Axiom Mission 4, which was to include Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s flight to the ISS, has been delayed. Post-launch static fire booster inspections identified leaks, leading SpaceX to postpone the Falcon 9 launch. SpaceX stated on X that a new launch date would be shared after resolving the problem. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also confirmed the delay. This mission is of particular significance to India as it will carry the first Indian Gaganyatri, Shubhanshu Shukla, to the ISS. A seven-second hot test, carried out during launch vehicle preparation, revealed a LOx leak in the propulsion bay. The launch is postponed until the leak is fixed and validation tests are carried out.
The Ax-4 mission will include crew members from India, Poland, and Hungary, representing each nation’s first-ever mission to the space station. It is only the second human spaceflight mission sponsored by a government in over four decades.