The highly anticipated Axiom Mission 4, which includes Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla among its crew, has been postponed yet again.
There is no revised launch date currently confirmed.
The mission, a collaborative effort by NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX, was originally scheduled to launch on Sunday, June 22.
This marks the seventh delay for the mission.
The postponement comes due to what officials describe as "operational and safety concerns being addressed at the International Space Station." NASA stated via the ISS official account that the agencies are continuing to evaluate upcoming launch windows and will announce a new date in the coming days.
According to a spokesperson from Axiom Space in Houston, the astronauts remain healthy and optimistic.
Speaking to NDTV, the official shared, “I talk to them (the four astronauts) frequently and they are doing just fine. They are healthy and in good spirits. They trust the process and the decision-making.”
The crew has been under quarantine since May 14 and continues to stay in Florida, maintaining strict health and safety protocols as they await clearance for launch. The current launch window extends through June 30. If the mission cannot proceed by then, a backup window is expected to open in mid-July.
Axiom Mission 4 is a private flight to the International Space Station, with former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson serving as mission commander. Shubhanshu Shukla will be the pilot, marking a major milestone as he becomes only the second Indian in history to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984.
The mission also includes ESA astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu, both serving as mission specialists.