Tension Builds As Axiom Mission-4 Targets Launch: Why June 19 Is A Must-Meet
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India has invested Rs 550 crore in the mission led by US-based Axiom Space, which is now aiming for one of the last viable launch windows before a major delay derails the efforts
With all four astronauts in extended quarantine for nearly three weeks, the clock is ticking for Axiom Space to launch its much-awaited fourth mission before a major delay derails the effort. After recent setbacks, the crucial spaceflight is now targeting a Thursday launch but the pressure is mounting as space agencies complete last-minute troubleshooting to avoid a costly postponement.
While NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX have announced that they are reviewing launch opportunities no earlier than Thursday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which has invested Rs 550 crore in the private collaboration, has made it clear that 'safety and mission integrity remains its top priorities".
The high-stakes mission is India's first collaborative human spaceflight since 1984, and nothing is being left to chance. Riding on it are hopes and dreams of billions, as Gaganyaan astronaut-designate Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to become the first Indian astronaut to enter the International Space Station.
But the mission launch has been affected by weather, and then the liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon-9 booster that caused the last-minute postponement of the mission on June 11. While SpaceX has already resolved the observations on Falcon-9 Liquid Oxygen Leak, as confirmed by ISRO, another significant issue with the ISS Zvezda module is being addressed by NASA with Roscosmos.
This is critical because it can impact the docking and other key ISS operations. The issue came to light during inspections by cosmonauts aboard ISS, who then sealed the leak in the pressurised module, but the two agencies are in the process of completing the last-minute troubleshooting. ISRO chairman Dr V Narayanan remains stationed in Florida with his team to oversee mission readiness.
The launch window is narrowing with every passing day. ISS, which has been orbiting the Earth for almost 25 years, has a tightly managed schedule coordinated by NASA. Any more delay could jeopardise the subsequent missions, some carrying cargo or other essential supplies and station maintenance—a timeline for which is locked in months in advance after considering complex logistical and operational factors.
The rocket launch also must be precisely timed to align with ISS's orbital pass, so it can also enter the same plane and trajectory in order to successfully dock with it. But a more important consideration is that ISS has limited docking ports which need to be available, especially for a private spaceflight lasting 14 days. The launch is also subject to the weather conditions off the Florida coast, around the launch site, as well as the ascent path of the rocket.
But what makes the situation more daunting is that the four-member crew who has trained extensively for the past year have now been in extended quarantine for almost three weeks, which may affect their overall fitness and readiness. Compounding the urgency are also the 60 carefully chosen science experiments for the 14-day mission, including the seven shortlisted by ISRO—all of which have a limited viability window. While scientists are reviewing their current status, further delays could compromise their success rates.
On the ground are additional challenges—technical, logistics, financial—which continue to put added strain on all space agencies involved.
While the weather over the Florida coast remains favourable for the launch on Thursday, a formal go-ahead from meteorologists is awaited as they continue to monitor conditions both at the launch site and along the rocket's ascent path.
The mission is critical for India, Hungary and Poland which are looking to make history by sending their first-ever astronaut to the International Space Station. Shukla, who has been training for the mission for the last one year, is already in quarantine.
The crucial mission was postponed last week after a liquid oxygen leak was detected just hours before the scheduled launch. The leakage was detected during a routine seven-second hot test to validate the performance of Falcon-9's booster—a standard part of pre-launch checks. It was traced to the propulsion bay. After ISRO's discussions with Axiom and Space X, the decision was made to stand down from the mission, rectify the issue and re-validate it before clearing for the next launch attempt.
Now, after weeks of delays, and amid growing logistical strains, the spotlight is now squarely on Axiom Space and its launch partner SpaceX to deliver. So, when the SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket stands poised at the launch pad on June 19, the pressure to execute will be palpable.
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First Published:
June 18, 2025, 08:18 IST
News world Tension Builds As Axiom Mission-4 Targets Launch: Why June 19 Is A Must-Meet
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