Axiom-4 Space Mission Rescheduled Due to Technical Issue: Liquid Oxygen Leak Discovered
Axiom-4, a multi-nation space mission set for June 11, 2025, has been postponed due to a liquid oxygen (LOX) leak detected during a test of the Falcon 9 booster. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and SpaceX teams are reviewing the leaks and confirming a new launch date is pending.
Soon after the postponement announcement, a spokesperson from SpaceX shared the details: "We have decided to delay the Falcon 9 launch for Axiom-4 to ensure a smooth process for repairing the LOX leak. A new launch date will be announced once repairs are completed."
ISRO, in a statement on X, clarified that the leak was detected during a seven-second hot test of the booster on the launch pad. Before clearance for the launch, ISRO "will correct the leak and carry out necessary validation tests."
The Axiom-4 mission includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary, making it a historic event for Indian space collaboration with NASA. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a national astronaut, is set to participate in Axiom’s fourth private astronaut mission. Slawosz Uznanski, an ESA project astronaut, and Tibor Kapu, a Hungarian astronaut, will complement the crew.
The mission, commanded by Peggy Whitson, will notably mark her second time on a commercial human spaceflight mission, and she will aim to extend her American record for cumulative space time.
Timely updates and detailed information can be found on the official websites of ISRO, Axiom, and SpaceX.
