THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, June 18: Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced that Axiom Mission 04 (Ax-4), which will carry Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS), is now tentatively set to launch on June 22, 2025.
Minister Singh shared the update via a post on X, noting that Axiom Space suggested the new launch date after evaluating all key mission elements.
“After assessing the key parameters, including Module Fitness, Crew Health, Weather, etc, @Axiom_Space has indicated that 22 June 2025 may be the next likely launch date of Axiom-04 Mission carrying, among others, the Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, to the International Space Station. Further updates, if any, shall be shared accordingly,” he posted on X.
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🚀 Update | Axiom Mission 04 to International Space Station (ISS)
…..After assessing the key parameters including Module Fitness, Crew Health, Weather etc… @Axiom_Space has indicated that 22 June 2025 may be the next likely launch date of Axiom-04 Mission carrying, among…
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) June 18, 2025
The new schedule follows a comprehensive review of mission readiness and technical parameters by Axiom Space, the private aerospace firm managing the mission.
Earlier on Wednesday, Axiom Space confirmed that the launch window for the Ax-4 mission has been shifted to no earlier than Sunday, June 22, allowing NASA additional time to assess recent repairs to the aft section of the Zvezda service module on the ISS.
The Ax-4 crew, currently quarantined in Florida in accordance with all medical and safety protocols, includes Peggy Whitson—former NASA astronaut and Axiom’s Director of Human Spaceflight—as commander. Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot, while Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland (ESA project) and Tibor Kapu of Hungary are designated as mission specialists.
