The Axiom-4 mission, initially postponed due to a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon rocket, has now encountered another delay. On Thursday, NASA and Axiom Space announced that the launch to the International Space Station (ISS) would be postponed again—this time due to an air leak in the Russian Zvezda service module.
NASA, in collaboration with Roscosmos, is conducting an ongoing investigation to assess a new pressure signature detected after recent repair efforts in the Zvezda module. Cosmonauts aboard the ISS have inspected the pressurized module’s interior, sealed additional areas of concern, and measured the current leak rate. Following these efforts, the segment is now holding pressure.
NASA stated that the postponement would allow additional time for further evaluation and troubleshooting. The agency deferred to Roscosmos for specific details regarding the Zvezda module.
A new launch date for the fourth private astronaut mission will be announced once available. The Axiom-4 mission will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space. The crew includes:
- Shubhanshu Shukla (Pilot, ISRO – Indian Space Research Organisation)
- Sławosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Mission Specialist, ESA – European Space Agency, Poland)
- Tibor Kapu (Mission Specialist, Hungary)
About the Zvezda Service Module
The Zvezda Service Module was the first fully Russian contribution to the ISS, serving as a cornerstone for early human habitation. It provides living quarters, life support systems, electrical power distribution, data processing, flight control, and propulsion systems.
NASA and Axiom Space remain committed to ensuring crew safety and mission success, with further updates expected as the investigation progresses.
