The launch of Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has once again been postponed. Initially set for this Sunday, June 8, the company announced today that the new launch window is now scheduled for Tuesday, June 10, at 8:22 a.m. EDT aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This marks the second delay for the Ax-4 mission, which was originally planned for liftoff on May 29. The adjustments result from ongoing modifications to the ISS schedule.
Axiom Space did not provide a specific reason for the two-day postponement. The crew for this mission includes commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut with more time in space than any other American; pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India; mission specialist Sławosz Uznański from Poland; and mission specialist Tibor Kapu from Hungary.
Notably, Ax-4 will be a landmark mission, as it will be the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary actively live and work aboard the ISS. The four-member team will utilize a newly launched SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule and is expected to spend approximately two weeks conducting around 60 scientific experiments during their stay.
After completing their mission, the astronauts will return to Earth, concluding with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
The Ax-4 mission highlights the collaborative spirit of international space exploration and opens doors for scientific advancements through diverse perspectives and expertise. As the world looks on, this mission serves as a testament to evolving space partnerships and the pursuit of knowledge in microgravity environments.