Why the Axiom-4 space mission was delayed and what you need to know about the launch window | Explained

The Axiom-4 mission, which will carry Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS), was all set for launch on June 10, 2025. 

But nature didn’t cooperate. Due to high winds and unsafe weather conditions, the launch was pushed to June 11. Though delays can feel frustrating, they remind us of an important fact weather plays a big role in space travel. 

As the historic mission gets ready for a launch something as common as wind or rain can stop a rocket. Why is a launch window also significant for a launch?

“Launching a rocket is a task that demands perfect conditions. The Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX, which will carry Shukla and his team, is a powerful machine, but it still cannot fight nature. Strong winds at high altitudes can push the rocket off course, making the mission risky. Lightning is extremely dangerous. Even a single strike can damage the rocket’s electronics or fuel systems. Heavy rain and clouds can block the view for ground teams and interfere with radar tracking. Extreme temperatures, whether too hot or too cold, can affect the rocket’s materials and fuel performance,” explained space analyst Girish Linganna.

For a mission as important as Axiom-4 India’s return to human spaceflight after 41 years safety is more important than schedule. If the weather isn’t right, the mission simply waits. The delay also brings attention to a key concept in space travel: the launch window. This is a specific time period during which a rocket must be launched to successfully reach its destination.

In this case, the destination is the ISS, which orbits Earth every 90 minutes at around 28,000 km per hour. To reach the ISS, the spacecraft must launch at a time when its flight path can match the station’s orbit. “Even though the ISS passes overhead multiple times a day, the rocket does not launch when the station is directly above. Instead, after the rocket finishes its job and separates, the spacecraft in this case, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon enters a lower orbit, which is closer to Earth. Because it is closer to Earth, the spacecraft moves faster than the ISS. This helps it slowly catch up to the space station, like a car in a fast lane overtaking another. Over a day or two, the spacecraft gets closer and finally docks with the ISS. This planned catching-up process is called an orbital rendezvous,” remarked Linganna.

Experts say depending on the mission, launch windows may be instantaneous meaning the rocket must launch in one precise second or offer a few minutes of flexibility. Axiom-4 operates within a broader planning window that extends through June. This means the launch can still happen on later dates if there are weather or technical delays. However, this time is also limited by ISS schedules, crew changes, and upcoming missions.

This delay shows us that space missions are not just about power and speed they are about precision, patience, and safety. When the rocket finally takes off, we’ll know that every step was taken with care, and every risk was avoided. In space travel, safety always comes before schedule.

Sci/Tech