Axiom-4 mission delayed again. Here's what SpaceX said about why Shubhanshu Shukla, team won't take off today…
SpaceX on June 11 said the Axiom-4 mission is being delayed to complete repair works related to a leak.
'Standing down from tomorrow's Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to the 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,' the official account posted on X.
A new date was not immediately stated, but an announcement is expected soon.
(This is a breaking story, more updates coming…)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Trump-Musk feud continues? White House orders review of SpaceX contracts after fallout: Report
The White House instructed the Defense Department and Nasa earlier this month to examine details of contracts worth billions following President Donald Trump's public disagreement with , according to four sources familiar with the directive who spoke to Reuters. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The administration instructed these agencies to examine Musk's contracts to prepare potential actions against the entrepreneur and his enterprises, these sources indicated. Pentagon officials are also evaluating whether to limit SpaceX's involvement in a new American missile defence initiative, as Reuters reported on Thursday. While the ultimate intention regarding SpaceX's current federal contracts worth approximately $22 billion remains unclear, the assessment will mark the administration's follow-through on Trump's June 6 statement to journalists aboard Air Force One, where he mentioned possible termination of business and subsidies for Musk's ventures, stating "We'll take a look at everything." A White House spokesperson, responding via email to Reuters, avoided specific questions about Musk's operations, stating the "Trump administration is committed to a rigorous review process for all bids and contracts." Nasa's spokesperson separately indicated the agency would maintain collaboration with industry partners to achieve presidential space objectives. Sources familiar with the directive indicated the contract review aims to enable swift administrative action should Trump decide to move against Musk, who previously served as a senior presidential adviser and led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). One source characterised the review as "for political ammunition." The feasibility of legally cancelling existing contracts remains uncertain. However, the situation highlights governance experts' worries about political and personal influences potentially affecting government spending, national security and public interest matters. Another Reuters report on Friday cited three people familiar with the project, claiming that the feud called into question the role of Musk's SpaceX in the new US missile defense system. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Until recently, the White House considered a plan for SpaceX, Musk's rocket and satellite venture, to partner with software maker Palantir and drone builder Anduril to construct crucial elements of the project, dubbed "Golden Dome. " These people said the administration instructed the Pentagon to prioritize a network of satellites for the purpose. A new framework aimed at tracking and preventing potential missile attacks against the United States is currently under consideration, which could reduce SpaceX's involvement. Three individuals stated that one option might initially forego SpaceX's satellite capabilities to focus on expanding existing ground-based missile defence systems instead. Scott Amey, a contracting specialist at Washington's Project on Government Oversight, noted the situation's paradox, where Musk's contracts face similar subjective political scrutiny that his DOGE team applied to numerous other contracts, emphasising that decisions should prioritise public and national security interests over personal disputes. SpaceX has become essential to American government aerospace and defence operations, managing satellite launches and potentially overseeing a crucial component of Trump's "Golden Dome" missile defence system. Despite Musk's recent attempts to moderate his presidential criticisms, including his (now-deleted posts) impeachment call and allegations linking Trump to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, his outbursts highlighted government dependence on SpaceX. Before his reversal, Musk suggested decommissioning the Dragon spacecraft, currently America's sole means of transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station under a £5 billion Nasa contract. Additionally, SpaceX is developing a classified satellite network for the National Reconnaissance Office, strengthening its relationship with American defence and intelligence communities. The feud between Musk and Trump intensified after the Tesla owner criticised Trump's key domestic bill, describing it as a 'disgusting abomination' and alleging that Trump's name appeared in unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files—a post Musk subsequently deleted. In response, Trump called Musk 'a big-time drug addict' and mocked his appearance during a recent Oval Office visit. However, the tensions seemed to ease when Musk expressed "regret" saying he went too far. 'I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,' Musk wrote Wednesday on the platform he owns. In response, the White House signalled a possible softening of tone. 'The President acknowledged the statement that Elon put out this morning, and he is appreciative of it,' Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
White House reviews SpaceX contracts as Trump-Musk feud simmers, sources say
The White House earlier this month directed the Defense Department and NASA to gather details on billions of dollars in SpaceX contracts following the public blowout between President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk , four people familiar with the order told Reuters. Sparking an ongoing review, the administration ordered the agencies to scrutinize Musk's contracts to ready possible retaliation against the businessman and his companies, these people said. As Reuters reported on Thursday, Pentagon officials are simultaneously considering whether to reduce the role that SpaceX, Musk's space and satellite company, may win in an ambitious new U.S. missile defense system. Reuters couldn't determine whether the White House intends to cancel any of the approximately $22 billion in federal contracts SpaceX now has. But the review shows the administration is following through on a threat by Trump during his spat with Musk last week to possibly terminate business and subsidies for Musk ventures. "We'll take a look at everything," the president said, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on June 6. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Indonesia (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo In an email to Reuters, a White House spokesperson didn't answer questions about Musk's business, saying the "Trump administration is committed to a rigorous review process for all bids and contracts." In a separate statement, a spokesperson at NASA said the agency "will continue to work with our industry partners to ensure the president's objectives in space are met." Neither SpaceX nor officials at the Defense Department responded to requests for comment. Live Events The people familiar with the order said the contract scrutiny is intended to give the administration the ability to move fast if Trump decides to act against Musk, who until recently was a senior advisor to the president and the head of the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The review is "for political ammunition," one of the people said. Whether the U.S. government could legally, or practically, cancel existing contracts is unclear. But the possibility underscores concerns among governance experts that politics and personal pique could improperly influence matters affecting government coffers, national security and the public interest. "There's an irony here that Musk's contracts could be under the same type of subjective political scrutiny that he and his DOGE team have put on thousands of other contracts," said Scott Amey, a contracting expert and general counsel at the Project on Government Oversight, a watchdog group based in Washington. "Any decision shouldn't be based on the egos of two men but on the best interests of the public and national security." Musk's SpaceX in recent years has become a crucial partner of the U.S. government in much of its aerospace and defense work - launching satellites and other space cargo and potentially managing a crucial element of the "Golden Dome" missile shield planned by Trump. Although Musk in recent days has sought to walk back some of his critiques of the president - such as calling for Trump's impeachment last week and linking him to a convicted sex offender - his outbursts nonetheless highlighted the government's reliance on SpaceX. Before reversing course, Musk threatened to decommission the company's Dragon spacecraft. The spacecraft, as part of a roughly $5 billion contract with NASA, is the only U.S. vessel currently capable of carrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station. SpaceX is also building a network of hundreds of spy satellites under a classified contract with the National Reconnaissance Office, a U.S. intelligence agency. The contract was a pivotal transaction for SpaceX, deepening its ties with U.S. defense and intelligence services.
The Print
11 hours ago
- The Print
What is Zvezda module, Russian contribution to ISS further delaying Axiom-4 Mission
NASA and Axiom said in a statement they were postponing the launch so that, along with Roscosmos, the Russian Space Agency, they can get more time to understand the problem. The leak was detected in the Russian Zvezda module of the ISS and the three cosmonauts in the module are working to fix the issue. New Delhi: A leak detected near the rear of the International Space Station (ISS) has further delayed the launch of the Axiom-4 Mission carrying IAF Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla to space, NASA announced Friday morning. According to ISRO, the new launch date will be announced jointly by NASA and Axiom once the issue is resolved. The decision was made keeping in mind that Shukla and the three other crew members aboard Ax-4 Mission are expected to spend a minimum of two weeks living on the ISS, conducting research. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also said it was 'working closely' with Axiom Space, NASA and SpaceX to 'responsibly address' the ISS module problem. ISRO is working closely with @Axiom_Space, @NASA, @SpaceX as they responsibly address the ISS Zvezda module observation causing the Ax‑4 delay. Safety and mission integrity remain our top priorities. With regards Dr. Secretary DOS/ Chairman ISRO & Chairman Space… — ISRO (@isro) June 12, 2025 This is the fourth time the Axiom-4 Mission, which marks an Indian astronaut's return to space after 41 years, has been postponed. The mission was initially set to launch on 29 May but was pushed to 8 June because of problems identified in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. It was subsequently moved to 9 June because of readiness issues in the SpaceX Falcon rocket, and then again to 10 June because of unfavourable weather conditions. On 10 June, Axiom announced that it had noticed a liquid oxygen leak in the rocket during the dry run and was postponing the launch again. The mission now stands postponed with no future launch date set. Also Read: What is a LOx leak—snag that has delayed Axiom-4 mission once again What is the Zvezda module The Zvezda module, part of the Russian contribution to the ISS, was docked to the station in July 2000. It provides life support systems, living quarters, communications systems and flight control systems to Russian cosmonauts aboard the station. According to the ISS blog, cosmonauts onboard the Zvezda module recently repaired the air leak in their module. However, NASA again discovered a change in air pressure inside the ISS, indicating a leak or anomaly. The cosmonauts have checked the interior walls of the Zvezda module for cracks and sealed the suspicious areas. While the pressure inside seems to be normal, NASA and Roscosmos are still looking for a longer-term solution. The ISS is made up of different modules attached by different space agencies—NASA, JAXA, CSA, ESA, and Roscosmos. While some modules like the Permanent Multipurpose Module by the ESA are used mainly for cargo storage, others like the Cupola by NASA are used for Earth observation and space walks. However, the Zvezda, like ESA's Tranquility Module and NASA's Unity Module, is one of three ISS modules that have life support systems for astronauts in space and provide living quarters. In the event of a new mission like Axiom-4 carrying a crew to space, it is vital for the station to be fully operational and intact to prevent potential problems during the docking of spacecraft or conducting research experiments. (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also Read: India poised for human spaceflight after 41 yrs—all about Axiom-4, Shubhanshu Shukla's 'dream come true'
