Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom Mission 4 Launch Rescheduled
Axiom Mission 4 Launch Update
The journey of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Mission 4 has faced multiple delays. Axiom Space announced a new launch date for this private astronaut mission on Tuesday. The ISS shared the update on social media, stating, “NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are aiming for a launch at 2:31 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 25.”
The crew is now set to launch on June 25, 2025, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, specifically from Launch Complex 39A in Florida. According to NASA's latest press release, “The crew will travel to the orbiting laboratory aboard a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the Falcon 9 rocket. The expected docking time is around 7 a.m. on Thursday, June 26. Further details and coverage information will be provided soon.”
The mission was originally scheduled for launch on June 11 but was postponed to June 19 and then to June 22 due to leaks found during post-static fire booster inspections. The launch date has now been revised once more.
Event |
Date & Time (UTC) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | June 25, 2025, 2:31 AM | Launch to the International Space Station |
| Docking | Approx. June 26, 2025, 7:00 AM | Scheduled docking with the ISS |
| Duration | Up to 14 days | Time docked to the ISS |
Details of Axiom-4 Mission
The mission will be led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, with Shubhanshu Shukla serving as the pilot. The team also includes Poland’s Slavoj Uznanski and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu as mission specialists. Axiom-4 marks the second commercial spaceflight mission featuring government and ESA-sponsored national astronauts.