SpaceX Delays Axiom-4 Mission Due to LOX Leak

(MENAFN) The launch of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), which includes an Indian crew member, has been delayed once more due to a technical issue, according to statements from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and SpaceX on Wednesday.

“As part of launch vehicle preparation to validate the performance of the booster stage of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, seven second of hot test was carried out on the launch pad. It is understood that LOX leakage was detected in the propulsion bay during the test,” said V. Narayanan, chairman of ISRO, in an official statement.

Following consultations between ISRO, Axiom Space, and SpaceX technical teams, officials concluded that the liquid oxygen (LOX) leak must be repaired and additional validation tests conducted before moving forward. Consequently, the Axiom-4 launch originally scheduled for June 11 has been postponed.

SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, also confirmed the decision, announcing it is "standing down" from the scheduled Falcon 9 launch of Axiom Mission 4 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The delay is meant to "allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak identified during post static fire booster inspections."

“Once complete – and pending range availability – we will share a new launch date,” the company added.

According to SpaceX, the four-person crew is expected to perform over 60 scientific experiments and demonstrations during their time aboard the ISS. These activities will span human physiology, Earth observation, as well as biological, life, and material sciences.

The mission will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and currently director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space. ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as the mission's pilot. European Space Agency project astronaut Sławosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu will act as mission specialists.

The launch had previously been delayed from June 10 to June 11 due to adverse weather conditions.

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