Axiom-4 Delay: Weather and Rocket Leak Ground India’s Shukla’s Historic Spaceflight

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s highly anticipated maiden spaceflight with the Axiom-4 mission has hit another snag. A liquid oxygen leak discovered in SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket, a leftover issue from a prior Starlink launch, has forced a postponement of the mission.

Adding to the challenge, unfavorable weather conditions have further complicated the launch schedule. This double whammy means Shukla, and the rest of the Axiom-4 crew, will have to wait a bit longer before embarking on their journey to the International Space Station (ISS).

The leak in the Falcon-9, a reusable rocket, is currently under investigation, and SpaceX is working diligently to resolve the technical issue before attempting another launch. The exact timeline for the rescheduled launch remains uncertain, leaving Shukla and space enthusiasts eagerly awaiting an update from the Axiom Space and SpaceX teams.