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The much-anticipated launch of the Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), which will feature Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, has been postponed yet again due to technical issues with the ISS’s Zvezda module.
NASA announced the delay via social media, citing safety concerns.
“Together with @Axiom_Space, we are postponing the launch of #Ax4 to the @Space_Station. A new launch date will be provided once available,” NASA wrote in a post on X.
India’s space agency ISRO also acknowledged the development and reassured its commitment to mission safety and coordination with international partners.
“ISRO is working closely with @Axiom_Space, @NASA, @SpaceX as they responsibly address the ISS Zvezda module observation causing the Ax 4 delay. Safety and mission integrity remain our top priorities. With regards Dr. V. Narayanan, Secretary DOS/Chairman ISRO & Chairman Space Commission,” ISRO wrote in an X post.
The Ax-4 mission, which is controlled by Axiom Space in the United States, was slated to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 11 at 8 a.m. local time (5:30 p.m. IST). The mission has since been delayed multiple times, originally scheduled for May 29 and then postponed to June 8, June 10, and June 11.
This mission has historical significance for India. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station, and only the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma’s journey in 1984.
Shukla will pilot the expedition, alongside Commander Peggy Whitson of the United States. Other crew members include Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, both of whom are mission specialists.
Shukla will perform pioneering research in food and space nutrition once aboard the ISS. These tests, undertaken in collaboration between ISRO and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with NASA sponsorship, seek to improve understanding of sustainable life-support systems, a critical component of potential long-duration space travel.
As international partners continue to fix current technical issues, a new launch date is scheduled to be announced shortly.
Source: IANS
