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Update on Axiom Mission 4 Launch

The launch of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed once more. Axiom Space announced on Tuesday that the new target launch date is now set for no earlier than Sunday, June 22. Initially scheduled for June 11, the mission was first delayed to June 19 due to detected leaks during post-static fire booster inspections. Now, the agencies have further pushed back the launch of Axiom Mission 4.

Axiom Space's official statement indicated, "NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are now targeting no earlier than Sunday, June 22, for the launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4."

The statement also noted that this adjustment allows NASA additional time to assess space station operations following recent repair work.

"The change in the targeted launch date provides NASA time to continue evaluating space station operations after recent repair work in the aft segment of the International Space Station’s Zvezda service module," the statement elaborated.

The crew will launch aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Ax-4 crew comprises members from India, Poland, and Hungary, marking the first mission to the space station for each of these nations and the second government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in over four decades.

Additionally, the Ax-4 mission includes approximately 60 scientific studies and activities from 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, the UAE, and various European nations. This mission is recognized as one of the most research-intensive activities conducted on an Axiom Space mission aboard the ISS to date.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is an Indian Air Force Test Pilot and Astronaut. Hailing from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, he completed his education at the City Montessori School. Inspired by the 1999 Kargil War, he decided to pursue a career in the armed forces, successfully clearing the UPSC exams. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the National Defence Academy in 2005.

Following his selection for the flying branch, he underwent training at the Indian Air Force Academy. In June 2006, he was commissioned as a Flying Officer in the Fighter stream of the Indian Air Force. With around 2,000 hours of flying experience across various aircraft, he is recognized as a combat leader and an experienced test pilot.