India’s Shubhanshu Shukla ISS Launch Delayed to June 8 

INDIA NEWS

By Aniket Chakraborty May 17, 2025 Arrow

Originally planned for May 29, the new launch date is June 8, 2025.

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No, it wasn’t due to India-Pakistan tensions—NASA cites technical checks.

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The Ax-4 mission will lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9.

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Shukla will fly alongside crewmates from the U.S., Poland, and Hungary.

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He will become the first Indian on the ISS and second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma.

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The 14-day mission includes microgravity research, muscle loss studies, and bio-farming.

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These studies support India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.

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NASA and Axiom Space say the delay ensures “safety and full operational readiness.”

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All systems are go for June 8—India’s moment in space is just a countdown away.

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