Launch of Indian astronaut’s mission to Space Station delayed due to bad weather
The much-awaited Axiom-4 mission — which will send Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) — has been postponed for the third time, officials confirmed on Monday.
ISRO and SpaceX attributed the delay to unfavourable weather conditions, with high winds in the ascent corridor forcing the new target launch date to shift to June 11, 2025, at 5:30 PM IST. The launch will take place from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This mission marks a historic moment for India’s space program, as it will be the first time since Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 flight that an Indian astronaut travels to space. Shukla, a seasoned Indian Air Force pilot and one of ISRO’s newest astronauts, will serve as the mission pilot. He’ll join a four-member international crew including former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson (mission commander), and specialists from Hungary and Poland.
A joint collaboration between Axiom Space, NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO, the Ax-4 mission was originally scheduled for May 29, before being pushed to June 8, then June 10 — and now to June 11 due to weather concerns.
The crew will head to the International Space Station aboard a new SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, launched by a Falcon 9 rocket. Once in orbit, they’ll spend around two weeks on the ISS, working on a variety of scientific experiments in weightless conditions. With support from researchers across more than 30 countries, many of these studies focused on life sciences, materials, and space medicine, have been designed by Indian scientists. It’s a collaborative mission aimed at pushing the boundaries of science and deepening our understanding of life in space.
ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan confirmed the delay and reiterated the importance of safety and precision in human spaceflight. “Space missions are intricate operations, and weather plays a critical role in launch decisions,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, excitement remains high across India and the global space community as the Ax-4 team enters final countdown once again.
