India’s Shubhanshu Shukla awaits historic spaceflight as launch delayed by oxygen leak
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The highly anticipated Axiom-4 space mission, which is set to carry India’s first spacecraft pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, has been delayed following the detection of a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak in the Falcon 9 booster.
The issue emerged during testing of the rocket’s forward stage propulsion bay, prompting Axiom Space and SpaceX engineers to jointly assess the situation.
After detailed discussions, the teams agreed that repairs and further checks were essential to ensure full operational safety.
A new launch date is yet to be announced.
Originally scheduled for liftoff on June 11, 2025, the mission aims to transport Shukla and his international crewmates to the International Space Station (ISS). The crew includes Peggy Whitson from the United States (mission commander), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.
A soft toy swan named Joy is set to accompany them as the mission’s zero-gravity indicator.
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed the LOx leak and emphasised that addressing such technical concerns is a necessary part of ensuring mission and crew safety. “This is a vital step to maintain the safety requirements for operations and crew,” he said.
The Axiom-4 mission marks a historic milestone for India, as Shukla is positioned to become the first Indian to pilot a spacecraft — a feat not achieved even during Rakesh Sharma’s groundbreaking 1984 mission.
Ahead of launch, the crew is currently in pre-flight quarantine. They have already completed rigorous preparation involving advanced simulations, theoretical briefings, and ocean splashdown training.
Once launched, the team will conduct 60 scientific experiments aboard the ISS, seven of which are led by Shukla himself. The research spans areas such as human physiology in space, artificial intelligence, materials science, and biology — reflecting the mission’s strong international collaboration involving 31 partner nations.
Axiom Space has highlighted the broader significance of the mission: “Ax-4 is the first time in more than 40 years that the government has supported a human spaceflight from India, Poland, or Hungary.”