Shubhanshu Shukla’s Spaceflight Postponed: Ax-4 Mission Faces Technical Glitch

The Ax-4 mission, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS), has been delayed due to a technical issue. The launch of the Falcon 9 rocket, initially planned for June 11, has been postponed by SpaceX. A leak was identified during inspections following a static fire test of the booster. SpaceX announced the delay via a social media post, indicating that repairs are underway, and a new launch date will be announced soon. ISRO also confirmed the postponement, highlighting the significance of the mission, which will see Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla become India’s second astronaut in space since 1984. The delay stems from a liquid oxygen leak detected during a hot test of the booster stage of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The Ax-4 mission includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary and is a landmark mission for all three nations.