Launch of Axiom-4 mission delayed for fifth time

The launch of Axiom Mission 4, which will take Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla into space, has been postponed to provide NASA time to evaluate repair work in the space station. Axiom Space said in a statement on Wednesday morning that SpaceX and the American space agency are targeting to launch the spacecraft no earlier than Sunday, June 22.

The mission will be piloted by Shukla. Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission.(SpaceX)

"NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are now targeting no earlier than Sunday, June 22, for launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4. The change in a targeted launch date provides NASA time to continue evaluating space station operations after recent repair work in the aft (back) most segment of the International Space Station’s Zvezda service module," the company said in a statement.