After a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak in SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket was discovered during post-static fire booster inspections, the much-anticipated Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission to the International Space Station (ISS), which was supposed to be a historic milestone for India, Poland, and Hungary, has been postponed. On June 11, 2025, SpaceX made the announcement of the postponement, noting that more time is needed to fix the leak and carry out the mandatory validation tests before the launch can take place. The business stressed that after repairs are finished and range availability is verified, a new launch date will be announced.
The Falcon 9 booster underwent a typical seven-second hot test to verify the rocket’s performance before to flight, which is how the LOx leak was found. This particular booster had already completed a Starlink mission and was being renovated when the leak, which had gone unnoticed at first, was discovered during the most recent test. William Gerstenmaier, Vice President of Build and Flight Reliability at SpaceX, admitted that the leak had also existed on the booster’s prior voyage and had not been completely fixed during refurbishment.
In order to prioritize crew safety and mission success, SpaceX and its partners—including the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Axiom Space—decided to fully fix the problem before moving further.
The Ax-4 mission is also significant since it will transport Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will be the sole Indian in space since 1984 and the first Indian Gaganyaatri (astronaut) to visit the ISS. Sławosz Uznański of Poland, Tibor Kapu of Hungary, and veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, who will lead the trip, are also on the crew. This journey marks the first time India, Poland, and Hungary have deployed astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and their first government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in more than 40 years. The mission, which intends to further the national space programs of the participating nations, is evidence of the expanding international cooperation in space.
Beyond its symbolic significance, Ax-4 is intended to be a 14-day mission centered on international collaboration and scientific investigation. It will be the most research-intensive Axiom Space mission to date, with the crew doing almost 60 scientific projects and activities representing 31 countries. Human research, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences will all be covered in these studies, which will highlight the crew’s home countries’ research capacities and advance international understanding of microgravity science.
The decision to postpone was decided following talks with Axiom Space and SpaceX experts, according to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, who is in charge of the mission in the United States. He emphasized the dedication to safety and technical rigor by restating that the mission cannot be certified for launch unless the leak is fixed and the rocket is revalidated.
The Ax-4 mission continues to be a source of inspiration and opportunity in spite of the delay, especially for India. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla said he was proud to represent his nation and hoped his experience would encourage young Indians to work in science and space research. Although frustrating, the mission’s postponement illustrates the difficulties and complexities of spaceflight as well as the partners’ persistent commitment to making sure the mission is safe and successful.
The technological difficulties in human spaceflight are highlighted by the postponing of the Ax-4 mission because of a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket. The eventual launch of the project, however, will represent India, Poland, and Hungary’s historic return to space, promoting global cooperation and furthering ISS scientific research.
