Launch of Axiom Mission 4 delayed due to liquid oxygen leak in Falcon 9 rocket
June 11, 2025 | Wednesday | News
The mission includes Shubhanshu Shukla, an astronaut from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), who will serve as pilot
NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX have announced a delay in the planned launch of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS), originally scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 2025. The decision comes after SpaceX teams identified a liquid oxygen (LOX) leak during post-static fire inspections of the Falcon 9 rocket. The leak will require additional time for repairs before the mission can proceed.
A new launch date will be confirmed once the necessary repairs are complete and pending range availability.
Commanded by veteran astronaut Dr. Peggy Whitson, the Ax-4 mission will mark the fourth private astronaut flight to the ISS under Axiom Space’s commercial program. Whitson, who previously served as a NASA astronaut and now directs human spaceflight at Axiom, will lead a diverse and historic crew.
The mission includes Shubhanshu Shukla, an astronaut from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), who will serve as pilot, making him one of the few Indian astronauts to fly to the ISS. The mission specialists are Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a project astronaut from the European Space Agency (ESA) representing Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.
The crew will launch aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. Once on board the ISS, the private astronauts will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations during their stay in orbit.
Axiom Mission 4 represents a continued push toward opening low Earth orbit to international and commercial partners, building the foundation for future space exploration beyond the ISS.
Further updates on the new launch schedule will be shared as repair efforts progress.
