Ax-4 Mission Delayed as NASA Conducts Additional Safety Checks on ISS
Cape Canaveral, Florida – June 20, 2025 – The scheduled launch of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a high-profile international human spaceflight, has been delayed as NASA and its partners undertake additional reviews to confirm the readiness of the International Space Station (ISS). Originally slated for lift-off on Sunday, June 22, the mission will now await a new date pending final safety evaluations.
The delay follows recent maintenance work on the rear portion of the ISS’s Russian-built service section. Space station engineers are currently analyzing system performance data to ensure full functionality before accepting new visitors on board. NASA emphasized that these precautions are standard and reflect a strong commitment to crew safety and mission assurance.
Ax-4 is particularly significant due to its globally diverse crew and the involvement of multiple nations. Organized by Axiom Space with transport support from SpaceX, the mission features astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary, symbolizing a new era of international collaboration in low-Earth orbit.
Leading the mission is Dr. Peggy Whitson, a record-setting astronaut and current director at Axiom Space. Serving as pilot is Shubhanshu Shukla from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), contributing to India’s growing presence in human spaceflight. The mission also includes Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, representing the European Space Agency, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary—both onboard as mission specialists.
The entire crew remains in pre-launch quarantine at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, fully prepared to proceed once the station is confirmed ready.
NASA officials stated that a new launch date will be announced shortly, once all technical reviews are complete. While such delays are not uncommon in space missions, they highlight the critical importance of ensuring a safe and functional environment aboard the ISS before any new crew arrives.
Ax-4 stands as a milestone in commercial and multinational spaceflight, and its eventual launch will mark another step forward in humanity’s collective journey into space.
