Shubhanshu Shukla's Space Quest Stalled: How Falcon 9 Leak Halted Axiom-4 Again? Know Here

The Axiom-4 mission with India's Shubhanshu Shukla was delayed again due to a Falcon 9 LOx leak. ISRO and SpaceX await repairs for a new launch date.

ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla with other astronaut for Axiom Mission 4 (ANI)

The launch of the Axiom-4 mission to take Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) was halted after a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak was detected in SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, the second such delay in two days. SpaceX and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that a new launch date will be announced after repairs and after completion of the validation tests.

Postponement of Axiom 04 mission slated for launch on 11th June 2025 for sending first Indian Gaganyatri to ISS.

As part of launch vehicle preparation to validate the performance of booster stage of Falcon 9 launch vehicle, seven second of hot test was carried out on the launch…

— ISRO (@isro) June 11, 2025

Technical Snag Halts Launch

SpaceX stated on X that extra time is necessary to correct a LOx leak discovered on post-static fire booster inspections. "Standing down from tomorrow's Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to the @Space_Station to allow SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak," the company said, noting that a new launch date will be based on repair progress and availability of the launch range.

ISRO gave additional information, stating that the leak was detected in the propulsion bay during a seven-second hot test on the launch pad. "It has been decided to fix the leak and perform necessary validation tests prior to clearing for launch," ISRO tweeted on X. The move came after consultations among ISRO, Axiom Space, and SpaceX experts.

Second Postponement In Days

The Axiom-4 mission, which was initially planned for June 10, 2025, was initially postponed to June 11 at 5:30 PM IST due to inclement weather, as notified by ISRO on Monday. The new technical snag has again postponed the mission, which will take Shukla, India's first "Gaganyatri" under the Gaganyaan program, to the ISS for a 14-day scientific mission.

Mission Significance

Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force Group Captain and test pilot, was chosen for the Axiom-4 mission, a three-way collaboration between ISRO, Axiom Space, and NASA. The mission will consist of experiments in microgravity, outreach, and technology demonstrations, a new milestone for India's human spaceflight program. Shukla's journey was expected to motivate millions, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasising its importance to India's space program.

Next Steps

SpaceX and ISRO are attempting to fix the LOx leak, with testing validation necessary before a new launch can be dated. The postponement has led to debate on X, with users disappointed but understanding the priority on safety. ISRO highlighted that tough checks guarantee astronaut safety, explaining, "The mission will proceed only after all systems are fully validated."

More information on the launch timeline should soon be available as teams work to resolve the technical problem and watch for weather at Florida's Kennedy Space Center.