The launch of the highly anticipated Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, which will carry Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS), has been delayed once again due to unfavorable weather conditions. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed on Monday that the launch has now been rescheduled for 5:30 PM IST on June 11, 2025.
Launch of Axiom-4 mission to International Space Station:
Due to weather conditions, the launch of Axiom-4 mission for sending Indian Gaganyatri to International Space Station is postponed from 10th June 2025 to 11th June 2025.
The targeted time of launch is 5:30 PM IST on 11th…
— ISRO (@isro) June 9, 2025
This marks the third postponement of the landmark mission, originally slated for earlier in the month. The mission will lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where bad weather on June 10 forced the latest delay.
Despite the hiccup, the Ax-4 mission remains a significant milestone in India’s space journey. It marks the country’s first human spaceflight participation since Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight in 1984, bringing India back into the fold of international human spaceflight efforts.
The multinational crew will travel aboard a new-generation SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which will be launched by a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A. The mission is a joint venture involving Axiom Space, NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO, highlighting a growing spirit of global cooperation in space exploration.
The Ax-4 crew is expected to spend up to 14 days in orbit. During this period, they will conduct a wide range of scientific experiments, many of which are being spearheaded by Indian researchers. The studies will explore the effects of microgravity on biological systems, investigate advanced materials, and support international scientific collaboration involving over 30 countries.
