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The much-anticipated Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is now expected to launch on June 22, following a series of six delays triggered by weather conditions and technical issues, including a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket.
The mission, operated by Axiom Space in partnership with NASA and SpaceX, was originally set for May 29 but has been rescheduled multiple times due to safety concerns. The most recent update from SpaceX confirms the launch window is now June 22 at 3:42 am ET (1:12 pm IST), with a backup slot on June 23.
Shukla will serve as the pilot under the command of Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut, on the 14-day mission to the International Space Station. The team has been under quarantine since May 14 and remains in Florida, with all members reported to be in good health and high spirits.
With the lift-off window open until June 30, another chance exists in mid-July if required. Shukla will become the second Indian to go to space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984, marking a significant milestone in India’s human spaceflight journey.