SpaceX: Shubhanshu Shukla’s Mission Halts Axiom-4 Launch Again After Liquid Oxygen Leak Detected

The launch of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission to the International Space Station (ISS), previously set for June 11th, faces another postponement. SpaceX announced the delay on social media platform X, citing a detected liquid oxygen (LOx) leak found during inspections following a booster test. This mission will carry Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the orbital outpost.

“Standing down from tomorrow’s Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak,” SpaceX stated. The company added that a new launch date will be announced once repairs are finished and launch range availability is confirmed.

This latest setback follows SpaceX’s earlier update reporting 85% favorable weather conditions for liftoff, though teams were monitoring high winds.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed the delay on X. ISRO explained that a seven-second “hot test” on the Falcon 9 launch pad, intended to validate booster performance, led to the detection of the LOX leak in the propulsion bay.

“Based on the discussion on this topic by the ISRO team with the experts of Axiom and SpaceX it has been decided to correct the leak and carry out necessary validation test before clearing for the launch. Hence the launch of Axiom 04 slated for 11th June 2025 for sending first Indian Gaganyatri to ISS is postponed,” ISRO’s statement continued.

The official International Space Station X account also confirmed: “@NASA, @Axiom_Space and SpaceX are standing down from the launch opportunity on Wednesday, June 11, of Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station.”

A joint effort involving Axiom Space, NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO, the Axiom-4 mission represents India’s first human spaceflight in over four decades, since Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight in 1984.

This marks the fourth delay for the Ax-4 mission. The previous postponement, just days earlier, was attributed to unfavorable weather, including a 45% chance of rain and strong winds at the launch site.

Once launched, the Ax-4 astronauts will conduct a two-week mission aboard the ISS. They plan to perform numerous scientific experiments in collaboration with researchers from over 30 countries, focusing on microgravity, life sciences, and material sciences.