The destiny of the highly anticipated Axiom-4 mission is dubious due to a number of delays. The mission was supposed to deliver humans to the International Space Station (ISS), marking a historic milestone for India, Hungary, and Poland.
Indian astronauts Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (primary) and Group Captain PB Nair (backup) are still in Florida, continuing their responsibilities and preparations as part of the mission crew, while a high-level Indian delegation, including ISRO Chief Dr. V. Narayanan, recently returned to India from Florida.
Due to a mix of technological difficulties and safety concerns, the Axiom-4 mission has been repeatedly delayed from its initial May 29, 2025 launch date. First, the launch dates were moved to June 8, then June 9, then June 10, June 11, June 19, and finally June 22.
The need to replace parts on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, technical issues with a Falcon 9 rocket engine, unfavorable weather, a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket, and—most importantly—an anomaly and ongoing air leak in the Russian Zvezda module of the ISS were the reasons behind each delay.
The most recent delay was caused by NASA’s need to further assess the ISS’s readiness after recent repairs to the Zvezda module, and it was reported just days before the scheduled June 22 launch. To guarantee the safety of incoming crew members, the station’s interconnected systems need to be thoroughly inspected. Because of this, the mission is now seen as postponed indefinitely, and NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX have withdrawn from the June 22 launch window and have not yet disclosed a new target date.
Despite the delays, the Axiom-4 crew, consisting of Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), Commander Peggy Whitson (Axiom Space), and Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (ISRO), is still in quarantine in Florida and will be ready to move forward whenever approval is received. At Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are in fine shape and are awaiting the final approval.
Since Group Captain Shukla would become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and just the second Indian to fly into space after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 expedition, the mission has great symbolic significance, especially for India. With ISRO continuing to be closely involved and Indian officials highlighting the mission’s significance for the country’s space ambitions, the frequent delays have increased anticipation and scrutiny.
Unresolved safety and technical issues, mostly related to the Russian portion of the ISS, have put the Axiom-4 mission on hold. The launch of the mission is pending additional study and the declaration of a new date by NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX, while Indian astronauts continue their preparations in Florida.
