Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom mission postponed: SpaceX detects LOx leak; Falcon 9 liftoff on hold pending repairs

NEW DELHI: Axiom-4 launch to the

Space Station

was postponed again on Wednesday after a

LOx leak

was identified during post

static fire booster inspections

. LOx stands for

Liquid Oxygen

, a cryogenic, pale blue liquid used as a powerful oxidiser. It is commonly used in rocket propulsion and industrial applications, but is highly reactive and can cause explosive combustion."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," posted SpaceX on X.

The rescheduled launch of Shubhanshu Shukla-piloted Axiom-4 mission was set to take place at 5.30pm IST on Wednesday after a 'weather call' taken at Kennedy Space Centre on Tuesday (8pm IST).