Axiom-4 Mission to ISS Delayed After Liquid Oxygen Leak Found in SpaceX Falcon 9
The much-anticipated Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission to the International Space Station (ISS) — featuring India’s first private-sector astronaut, Shubhanshu Shukla — has been temporarily delayed. The cause? A liquid oxygen (LOx) leak was discovered during post-static fire checks on the Falcon 9 launch vehicle by SpaceX.
🚀 What Happened?
In the early hours of June 11, 2025, SpaceX announced the delay via X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“Standing down from tomorrow’s Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to the @Space_Station to allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak identified during post static fire booster inspections.”
The issue was detected during a routine static fire test, a standard step to assess booster performance before any launch.
👨🚀 Why This Mission Matters
The Ax-4 mission, operated by Axiom Space, is a historic event in more ways than one:
It is the first fully commercial crewed mission to the ISS with Indian participation.
The crew includes astronauts from multiple countries, emphasizing global collaboration in space.
The mission’s objectives include microgravity experiments, international outreach, and commercial spaceflight development.
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is among the four-member crew, making this a proud milestone for India’s space aspirations in the private sector.
🛠️ What’s Next?
Once the leak is repaired and range availability (launch window) is confirmed, a new launch date will be announced. SpaceX is known for swift turnaround times on such technical hitches, but mission safety remains the top priority.
🌍 Axiom Space: Redefining Commercial Spaceflight
Founded in 2016, Axiom Space is a key player in the emerging commercial space economy. With plans to build the first commercial space station by the end of this decade, missions like Ax-4 are part of their roadmap toward low-Earth orbit (LEO) commercialization.
🔍 Key Points:
Ax-4 launch postponed due to Falcon 9 LOx leak.
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is part of the crew.
SpaceX confirmed issue during post-static fire booster inspections.
New launch date to be announced.
Mission aims for microgravity research and global outreach.
