ISRO Postpones Axiom-4 Mission Launch to June 11 Due to Weather Conditions

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Monday that the launch of the Axiom-4 mission, which was initially scheduled for June 10, has been delayed due to weather conditions. The mission, now set for June 11, aims to send Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS), with a targeted launch time of 5:30 PM IST (8 AM EST).

Reason for Delay:

ISRO confirmed the delay on social media platform X, citing adverse weather conditions as the reason for rescheduling the launch. “Due to weather conditions, the launch of Axiom-4 mission for sending Indian Gaganyatri to International Space Station is postponed from 10th June 2025 to 11th June 2025. The targeted time of launch is 5:30 PM IST on 11th June 2025,” the statement read.

Historic Mission:

This mission will be historic for India, as Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the first Indian astronaut to travel to the ISS. His journey will mark India’s second-ever human spaceflight, 41 years after Rakesh Sharma made history by becoming the first Indian to go to space aboard the Soviet Union’s Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.

Shukla, an officer with the Indian Air Force (IAF), will be joined by three other crew members: Commander Peggy Whitson, Hungarian specialist Tigor Kapu, and Polish specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski. The team will launch aboard SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket, set to take off from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida on June 11.

Mission Details:

During the 14-day mission at the ISS, the crew will engage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, interact with school students, and collaborate with space industry leaders. They will also conduct experiments and tasks related to space research. Shubhanshu Shukla will be involved in pioneering food and nutrition-related experiments, which have been developed through collaboration between ISRO, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), and NASA.

The experiments aim to improve space nutrition and self-sustaining life support systems, which are crucial for future long-duration space travel.

Preparation and Rehearsal:

The Ax-4 crew, along with SpaceX teams, completed a full rehearsal of the launch day activities on Sunday, ensuring everything is set for the rescheduled launch.

Tribute to Space Pioneers:

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh expressed pride over the mission, calling it “a proud global acknowledgement of India’s space capabilities” and a tribute to the nation’s space pioneers, Vikram Sarabhai and Satish Dhawan.

In addition to the seven experiments lined up for Shukla, he will also participate in five joint studies with NASA under its Human Research Program.

The historic Axiom-4 mission is poised to mark another milestone in India’s growing space exploration capabilities.