Indian Astronaut’s⁤ ISS Mission Delayed⁢ Again Due to Weather

⁤ ⁣ Updated June ‍10, 2025

The launch of Indian astronaut shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) has⁣ been postponed once more⁤ because of unfavorable weather conditions,⁤ according to the Indian‍ Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Axiom Space, in partnership with SpaceX, now aims to launch the Ax-4 mission on Wednesday, June 11, at 8 a.m. ET (5:30 p.m. IST) from Kennedy Space ⁣Center ⁢in Florida.

The mission,‍ which will send Shukla⁣ to the ISS, was initially slated for may 29 but faced subsequent delays,⁢ first to June 8 and then to‍ June 10. High winds in ⁣the ascent corridor⁣ prompted the latest postponement, SpaceX reported.

“Due ⁢to weather conditions, the launch of Axiom-4 ⁢mission for sending Indian Gaganyatri to International Space Station is⁤ postponed from 10th June 2025 to 11th June 2025,” Dr. V. Narayanan, chairman of ISRO, stated in a social media post.

SpaceX has scheduled a backup launch possibility for⁢ June ⁣12 at 7:37⁣ a.m. ET.

Upon successful completion of the flight,Shukla will ⁢become the first Indian citizen to visit the⁤ ISS and the ⁤second Indian to ⁣venture into ⁢space,following Rakesh Sharma’s‍ 1984 mission to ⁢Salyut 7.

shukla’s mother,speaking from Lucknow,told IANS that the family feels “immense⁤ pride” in his accomplishments.

Shukla will serve as the mission pilot alongside Commander Peggy Whitson of the U.S. ⁢The crew also includes mission specialists⁤ Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and⁣ Tibor Kapu⁢ from Hungary.

Once⁤ aboard the ISS,⁣ Group Captain Shukla of the Indian Air Force is scheduled ⁤to carry out⁣ experiments focused on⁢ food and nutrition. These experiments,⁣ a collaboration ‍between ISRO, the Department of Biotechnology⁢ (DBT), and NASA, seek‍ to advance space nutrition and create self-sustaining life ⁤support systems crucial ⁣for extended space missions. The research will investigate how microgravity and space radiation affect edible‍ microalgae, a potentially valuable nutrient source.

The study will monitor growth parameters and analyze changes ⁤in the transcriptomes,⁢ proteomes, and metabolomes of various algal species in space compared to those on Earth. This research is vital for developing lasting ⁢food sources for long-duration space travel and understanding the effects of space conditions on biological systems,⁣ contributing to advancements in space nutrition and⁢ life support technologies.

What’s next

The⁣ Axiom-4 mission team will continue to monitor weather conditions and prepare for the next launch opportunity on June 11. If ⁣that launch is also delayed, the backup date of June 12 will be considered. The successful launch and completion of Shukla’s mission⁢ will mark a meaningful milestone for India’s space program and contribute valuable data to the ‍field⁣ of space nutrition.