The Ax-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is experiencing another delay. The launch, originally planned for June 11, was first postponed to June 19 and then to June 22. However, NASA has now postponed the June 22 launch as well.
NASA, along with Axiom Space and SpaceX, are reviewing launch opportunities. The decision to postpone was made to allow further assessment of the ISS operations following recent repairs on the Zvezda service module. The agency requires more time to ensure the space station is ready for the arrival of the new crew.
The Ax-4 crew includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary, marking a historic first for each of these nations. This mission also signifies the second government-supported human spaceflight in over four decades. The mission plans to conduct approximately 60 scientific studies and activities involving researchers from 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, the UAE, and nations across Europe. This mission is expected to be one of the most research-focused Axiom Space missions on the ISS.
Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force Test Pilot and Astronaut from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, will be part of this mission. He was inspired by the Kargil War, which led him to clear the UPSC exam. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the National Defence Academy.