Key Points
- The launch of Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed due to a technical issue.
- SpaceX detected a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak during pre-launch checks of the Falcon 9 rocket for the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission.
- ISRO and SpaceX teams are working together to resolve the issue; a new launch date will be announced after successful repairs and tests.
- Shukla will be the first Indian to visit the ISS and only the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma.
- The Ax-4 mission includes astronauts from the US, Poland, and Hungary, and will conduct scientific experiments over 2-3 weeks.
New Delhi: The highly anticipated space mission of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force, set to make him the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS), has been postponed once again. SpaceX, the private space company led by Elon Musk, announced the delay after discovering a technical issue with the Falcon 9 rocket scheduled to carry the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) crew to orbit.
Technical Snag: Liquid Oxygen Leak Detected
SpaceX revealed on social media platform X that the launch, originally set for Wednesday, was halted after engineers detected a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak in the rocket during a routine inspection. The leak was discovered following a seven-second hot test of the Falcon 9’s booster stage, a crucial step to validate the rocket’s performance before launch.
ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) confirmed the issue, stating, “During the hot test, a LOx leak was found in the propulsion bay. Expert teams from Axiom and SpaceX are now conducting verification tests and will only approve the launch after the problem is fully resolved.”
New Launch Date Awaited
With the technical team working to fix the leak, SpaceX and ISRO have assured that a new launch date will be announced once all safety checks and tests are successfully completed. The Ax-4 mission, which was scheduled for June 11, 2025, will only proceed after receiving final technical clearance.
Shubhanshu Shukla: India’s Next Space Pioneer
Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history as the first Indian to set foot on the ISS and the second Indian in space after legendary astronaut Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission. As the pilot of the Axiom-4 mission, Shukla will join astronauts from the United States, Poland, and Hungary for a 2-3 week stay aboard the ISS, conducting a series of advanced scientific experiments.
International Collaboration and Scientific Goals
The Ax-4 mission is a significant milestone in international space collaboration, with a diverse crew representing multiple countries. The mission aims to advance research in microgravity, life sciences, and technology demonstrations, contributing to the growing body of knowledge about long-duration spaceflight.
