The launch of the Axiom-4 (Axe-4) mission to the International Space Station (ISS), originally planned for June 11, has been delayed again. SpaceX confirmed the news in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying the delay is due to a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak found during checks after a test of the rocket. The mission will carry Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the ISS.

"Standing down from tomorrow's Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to allow more time to fix the LOx leak," SpaceX said. The company added that a new launch date will be shared after the repairs are done depending on the availability of the launch range. Earlier, SpaceX had said the weather looked good for launch, with an 85% chance of favourable conditions, but teams were still keeping an eye on strong winds along the rocket's path.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed the delay of the Axiom-4 mission launch. In a post on X, ISRO explained that a short 7-second engine test was done on the launch pad to check the booster stage of the Falcon 9 rocket. During this test, a liquid oxygen (LOX) leak was found in the propulsion section.

After discussions between ISRO, Axiom Space, and SpaceX experts, it was decided that the leak must be fixed and more tests carried out before the rocket can be cleared for launch. As a result, the launch of Axiom Mission 4, which was scheduled for June 11, 2025, to send India’s first Gaganyatri (astronaut) to the ISS, has been postponed.
The official X handle of the International Space Station also confirmed the delay, saying, "@NASA, @Axiom_Space and SpaceX are standing down from the launch opportunity on Wednesday, June 11, of Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station."

The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission is a collaborative project between Axiom Space, NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO. It holds great significance for India, as it will mark the country’s return to space travel with humans onboard, more than four decades after Rakesh Sharma flew to space in 1984.However, the mission has faced multiple delays. This is now the fourth time the launch has been postponed. Just a few days ago, bad weather, with chances of rain and strong winds, forced another delay.

Once the mission lifts off, the astronauts will stay on the International Space Station (ISS) for up to 14 days. During their time in space, they will carry out important scientific experiments in areas like microgravity, health sciences, and material studies. These experiments will be done with the support of researchers from more than 30 countries.