ISRO confirms Axiom‑4 mission piloted by Shubhanshu Shukla to launch on June 19

After repeated delays, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Saturday that the Axiom‑4 mission, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, is now set to launch on June 19, 2025 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

"Launch date of the Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station is, as of now, rescheduled for June 19, 2025," said Union MoS for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh in a post on X.

Also, Space X team has confirmed that all the issues, that led to earlier postponement of the launch, have been duly addressed. Further update, if any , will be accordingly shared," he added.


Ax‑4 had faced multiple delays due to a Falcon 9 liquid‑oxygen leak and a pressure anomaly in a module aboard the International Space Station (ISS). SpaceX and NASA stopped previous launch attempts to ensure all systems were thoroughly tested and secure.

Shukla is set to pilot the Crew Dragon spacecraft alongside commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists from Poland and Hungary. The 14-day mission will see him conduct seven experiments designed by ISRO, marking a major milestone for India’s human spaceflight program.

Repeated delays & tech glitches

The launch of Ax-4 has faced four postponements this week due to a series of technical issues and safety concerns. Problems included faults in the electrical harness of the Crew Dragon module, unprepared launch vehicle systems, unfavorable weather conditions, and most recently, an oxygen leak in the Zvezda module of the ISS.

ISRO stated that it had recommended in-situ repairs and a low-temperature leak test to validate the system’s performance before clearing the mission for launch.

“ISRO is working closely with Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX as they responsibly address the ISS Zvezda module observation causing the Ax‑4 delay,” said ISRO Chairman V Narayanan, adding that “safety and mission integrity remain our top priorities.”

The Ax-4 mission is seen as critical in preparing for ISRO's Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send a three-member crew to a 400 km orbit for a three-day mission. ISRO expects Shukla’s experience aboard the ISS to offer valuable operational insights that will shape India’s upcoming human spaceflight and the eventual construction of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.