NASA Confirms June 22 Launch for India’s Shubhanshu Shukla on Ax-4 Mission

After multiple delays caused by technical glitches and weather uncertainties, NASA and Axiom Space have officially confirmed the new launch date and time for the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, which includes Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla. The mission is now scheduled to lift off aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft on June 22 at 1:12 PM IST from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

This will mark a historic moment for India, as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a serving test pilot with the Indian Air Force and an astronaut trained by ISRO, is set to become part of an international crew headed to the International Space Station (ISS). The Ax-4 mission will be commanded by veteran NASA astronaut and Axiom’s director of human spaceflight Peggy Whitson. The other two mission specialists are Sawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland (representing the European Space Agency) and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.

NASA stated that the latest delay in launch was necessary to give astronauts aboard the ISS more time to evaluate ongoing repair operations in the Zvezda service module’s aft section. This repair followed a pressure leak detected on June 12, which led to the most recent postponement of the launch.

The Ax-4 mission was initially scheduled for May 29, 2025, but has seen several changes due to issues such as electrical harness concerns on the Crew Dragon, Falcon 9 vehicle readiness problems, unfavorable weather, and pre-launch anomalies. On June 8, tests revealed an oxygen leak and engine actuator anomaly, prompting replacement of the affected components and resulting in a revised schedule.

Despite the hurdles, Axiom Space now says all systems are go. The four astronauts have entered quarantine and are undergoing final preparations as the new date approaches. NASA emphasized that such adjustments are routine, especially when space station operations are impacted or need evaluation.

Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as the pilot of the mission, a prestigious role that also reflects India’s growing footprint in human spaceflight. During the mission, the Ax-4 crew is expected to conduct 60 scientific experiments aboard the ISS, including seven experiments from India. These studies will focus on diverse fields such as material science, biology, space medicine, and microgravity effects.

With this mission, India not only strengthens its collaboration with international space agencies but also takes a major leap in preparing for its own manned missions under the Gaganyaan program.

As the final countdown begins, the world watches closely. For India, June 22 is now a date to remember.

IT.