• Source:JND
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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed on saturday that the privately operated Axiom‑4 (Ax‑04) mission, carrying Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three foreign crewmates to the International Space Station (ISS), is now scheduling for lift‑off on 19 June 2025 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Axiom Space mission was to launch from Florida on June 11. But it was repeatedly delayed due to a liquid oxygen leak on the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle and subsequently due to a pressure anomaly on the Russian Zvezda Service Module on the ISS. After a joint assessment, SpaceX, NASA, ISRO, and Axiom Space engineers validated that the glitches have now been overcome. Axiom Space further added that they are working in close coordination with NASA to monitor the Zvezda module, which is now considered stable for docking operations.

Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh confirmed the scheduled launch in an (formerly Twitter) post, saying, "The launch date of the Axiom-4 mission with Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station is, as of now, revised to June 19. Also, the SpaceX team has assured that all the issues that resulted in the previous delay of the launch have been addressed accordingly."

First Indian To Reach ISS

Shukla will become the first Indian astronaut to reside on the ISS, marking a milestone in India’s space journey. He will be only the second Indian to travel into space after Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard a Soviet Soyuz mission in 1984. The 14-day commercial flight is a precursor to India’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme and underscores growing international collaboration in crewed space missions. Led by veteran NASA officer Peggy Whitson, the Ax‑04 mission also features Slawosz Uznanski‑Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary as mission specialists. Shukla will be the mission pilot, supporting key operations, experiments, and station upkeep during the two-week flight.

ALSO READ: What Five Experiments Will Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Conduct In His 14-Day Space Mission?

Focus On Space Experiments

Among the key deliverables of Ax‑04 are advanced life-support experiments. Shukla and his team will conduct tests on microalgae under a collaborative project led by ISRO and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with technical input from NASA. The experiment will determine the growth characteristics, gene expression, and nutritional content of algae in space as against the conditions on Earth, gaining valuable insights into future sustainable food systems for long-term space missions. With Axiom Space planning toward eventual deployment of its own space station, the Ax‑04 mission further accelerates commercial low-Earth orbit activity.

ALSO READ: ‘Shuks’ Set For Historic ISS Launch On June 10: How Subhanshu Shukla Trained With NASA, ESA & JAXA For His Space Mission

For India, it is a notable advance in human spaceflight capabilities through international strategic partnerships. If the weather is suitable and all flight-readiness reviews are completed on schedule, Falcon 9 will carry the Crew Dragon capsule into space. The carrier is expected to dock at the ISS around 30 hours after launch. The capsule will return to Earth via splashdown off Florida’s Atlantic coast after completing the 14-day mission. Axiom Space and ISRO are expected to issue a joint press briefing 48 hours before launch.