The Axiom-4 mission, poised to mark India's significant return to human spaceflight after 41 years with Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as a key crew member, has faced another postponement. Originally scheduled for June 10 and then June 11, 2025, the mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is now indefinitely delayed due to a technical snag in SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket. This delay has put a temporary halt on Shukla's journey to become the first Indian in space since Rakesh Sharma's historic 1984 flight.

The primary cause for the latest postponement is a liquid oxygen (LOX) leak, which was detected in the Falcon-9 rocket boosters during a post-static fire inspection. SpaceX confirmed the issue, stating that the rocket would remain grounded pending necessary repairs and further updates on range availability. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan elaborated that the LOX leak was identified in the propulsion bay during a seven-second hot test aimed at validating the booster stage's performance. He affirmed that a collaborative decision was made with Axiom Space and SpaceX to fix the leak and conduct validation tests before proceeding with the launch. Axiom Space also acknowledged the leak and the ongoing efforts with SpaceX to resolve the problem.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, call sign 'Shuks', born in Lucknow on October 10, 1985, is a decorated Indian Air Force officer with over 2,000 flying hours on fighter jets like the Su-30 MKI and MiG-29. An alumnus of City Montessori School, Lucknow, and the National Defence Academy, Shukla also holds an M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from IISc Bengaluru. He was selected in 2019 for India’s first astronaut corps for the Gaganyaan mission, anticipated in 2027. His extensive training includes programs at Russia’s Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre and ISRO’s facility in Bengaluru.

The Axiom-4 mission is commanded by veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. Shubhanshu Shukla serves as the pilot, accompanied by mission specialists Tibor Kapu from Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland. The crew is slated to launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a 14-day commercial venture to the ISS, managed by Axiom Space. During his time on the ISS, Shukla is scheduled to engage in cutting-edge research focusing on space nutrition and microgravity agriculture, including experiments with sprouting Indian staples like methi (fenugreek) and moong (green gram). These investigations, a joint effort by ISRO, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), and NASA, aim to develop sustainable life-support systems for future deep-space missions. Shukla will also participate in five NASA human research studies and is expected to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, students in India, and space industry leaders.

Shubhanshu Shukla’s participation in the Axiom-4 mission carries immense symbolic value for India. "This is not just my journey; this is the journey of 1.4 billion Indians," he stated, reflecting the national anticipation surrounding his flight. His alma mater in Lucknow had planned public watch parties, and hoardings celebrating his achievement were visible across the city. For a generation that has not witnessed an Indian astronaut in space, Shukla represents renewed hope and inspiration. Moreover, his experience on this mission is considered a crucial precursor to India’s independent human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan. With ISRO investing over Rs 550 crore in this endeavor, Shukla is seen as carrying the aspirations of an entire nation.

This is not the first time the Axiom-4 mission has been rescheduled. Initially set for May 29, it was pushed multiple times—first to June 8, then June 10, and subsequently June 11, 2025—due to a combination of technical issues and weather-related concerns. SpaceX Vice President William Gerstenmaier had previously mentioned ongoing troubleshooting for the Falcon-9 rocket. He disclosed that a purge system was being installed to mitigate any potential leaks and confirmed that a thrust vector control issue in engine 5 had been identified, with the associated components replaced. Engineers had reportedly fixed other snags found during the static fire test, which had been overlooked during the post-flight refurbishment of the boosters.