"Indian Principal Investigators coordinating with Axiom Space to refresh time-sensitive experimental specimens": ISRO on Ax-4 mission

New Delhi [India], June 16 (ANI): Stressing that the NASA, Axiom Space and SpaceX are "targeting" no earlier than June 19 for the upcoming mission to the International Space Station, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on Monday that they are coordinating with Axiom Space to refresh time-sensitive experimental specimens.
"@NASA, @Axiom_Space & @SpaceX are targeting no earlier than June 19 for the #Ax4 mission to the @Space_Station. Indian Principal Investigators & @isro are coordinating with @Axiom_Space to refresh time-sensitive experimental specimens. #Space #AxMission4 #ISRO #ISS," the ISRO said on X.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on June 14 that the upcoming Axiom-4 Mission, which will carry Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station, has been rescheduled for June 19.
In a post on X, Singh, who is also the Union Minister of State for Space, said, "Launch date of the Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station is, as of now, rescheduled for June 19, 2025."
"Also, the SpaceX team has confirmed that all the issues that led to the earlier postponement of the launch have been duly addressed," he clarified.
On June 11, SpaceX announced the postponement of the Falcon 9 launch of the Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), citing the need for additional time to repair a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak.
"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. "Once complete - and pending Range availability - we will share a new launch date," the company said in a post on X.
Despite the delay, the Axiom-4 mission remains significant. The Ax-4 crew includes members from India, Poland, and Hungary, marking each nation's first mission to the space station in history and the second government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in over 40 years, according to Axiom Space. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be India's second national astronaut to go to space since 1984.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is part of Axiom Space's fourth private astronaut mission (Ax-4), marking a historic moment for India's space collaboration with NASA.
According to Axiom Space, the Ax-4 mission will "realise the return" to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, marking each nation's first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. (ANI)