CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA:
SpaceX has postponed the launch of the Axiom-4 mission, which was to carry Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS), due to a technical issue involving the Falcon 9 rocket. The launch, originally slated for 5:30 PM (ET) on June 11, was halted after engineers discovered a liquid oxygen (LOX) leak during post-static fire inspections.
The announcement came late Tuesday night, with the company stating:
“Standing down from tomorrow’s Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to the International Space Station 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.”
Earlier, on June 10, The Times of India had reported that SpaceX engineers had uncovered technical anomalies during the routine static fire test of the rocket. William Gerstenmaier, SpaceX Vice President of Build and Flight Reliability, confirmed that the LOX leak originated from a previous Starlink mission involving the same booster.
“We discovered the issue during post-refurbishment testing after the booster’s last flight. It turns out the booster hadn’t been completely repaired. We’re now installing a purge system to contain the leak if it persists,” Gerstenmaier explained.
In addition to the LOX issue, SpaceX also identified a separate problem involving the thrust vector control system on engine five. The faulty components have since been replaced, and preliminary checks suggest the system is now functioning as expected.
Despite these setbacks, Gerstenmaier reassured that the company remains committed to mission safety and integrity.
“Spaceflight is incredibly challenging, and we learn something new with every mission. While the dry dress rehearsal went smoothly, we won’t compromise on safety,” he emphasized.
SpaceX has not yet confirmed a new date for the Axiom-4 launch. Once the LOX leak is fully resolved and the launch range becomes available, the company is expected to announce an updated timeline.
The Axiom-4 mission, which includes Shubhanshu Shukla and other international crew members, is part of an ongoing effort to expand commercial access to low Earth orbit and conduct scientific research aboard the ISS.
