The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission to the International Space Station (ISS) was all set for liftoff on June 11 but a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak showed up during post-static fire booster inspections. The launch will now be delayed.
SpaceX confirmed the same in a post on X.
“Standing down from tomorrow’s Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak,” the company said.
It specified that a new launch date would be announced once repairs were completed.
This mission holds significant importance for India, as it is set to send Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the ISS—marking the nation’s return to human spaceflight after more than four decades since Rakesh Sharma’s historic mission in 1984. The Ax-4 mission is a joint effort between Axiom Space, NASA, SpaceX, and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Confirming the issue, ISRO also shared details about the testing process that led to the discovery. “As part of launch vehicle preparation to validate the performance of the booster stage of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, seven second of hot test was carried out on the launch pad. It is understood that LOX leakage was detected in the propulsion bay during the test,” the agency posted on X.
“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 added.
The official ISS account also weighed in, confirming the postponement: “@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.”
This is now the fourth delay for the Axiom-4 mission. Just days earlier, SpaceX had reported weather-related concerns, saying, “Weather is 85% favourable for liftoff, with teams continuing to monitor high-winds in the ascent corridor.” The launch was then postponed due to a 45 per cent chance of rain and strong winds at the site.
Once launched, the mission will see astronauts spend up to 14 days aboard the ISS, conducting a variety of scientific experiments. These will cover key research areas including microgravity, life sciences, and material sciences, in collaboration with researchers from more than 30 countries.
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