NDTV Exclusive: Axiom-4 Launch Delays Unusual? Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains

SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, which will carry Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three other crew members to the International Space Station as part of the Axion-4 mission, was delayed again on Wednesday - for the fourth time since May 29.

Date & Time: Jun 12, 2025 06:10 am CST
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From: India News Bull

SpaceX's Axiom-4 Mission Faces Multiple Delays: Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains Why It's Normal

New Delhi:
The Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla along with three other crew members aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, has been postponed for the fourth time since its original May 29 launch date. The latest delay was caused by an oxygen leak detected in the Falcon 9 rocket, following earlier postponements due to unfavorable weather conditions.
Is this series of delays unusual or concerning? Renowned American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson doesn't think so. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Dr. Tyson emphasized that such delays are entirely normal for space missions due to the complex calculations involved. "That's why it is called rocket science - because it's hard," he remarked with humor.
DELAYS ARE ROUTINE IN SPACE MISSIONS
Dr. Tyson elaborated that delays should not cause concern: "I wouldn't sweat it the least. I mean, ask yourself, how many things have to go right for a space mission to work? And we've all seen multiple launches. Watching a launch never gets old. We see the countdown, and then everyone says 'all systems go', and scientists (at the mission control) go 'check', 'check', 'check' - all the people who are verifying the launch capability of their little piece of that mission, before the spacecraft and rocket gets to orbit. And so, I would not fret at all over a delay."
He further explained, "It would have been something different, by the way, if we had never done this before. Then the delays would be kind of mysterious, you know, like what could happen if we did launch, or if we didn't, and why, but we've been to the space station countless times, and the crew dragon has been there many, many times. So, It's not at all uncharted territory."
INDIA'S GROWING SPACE AMBITIONS
Commenting on the significance of Shubhanshu Shukla's upcoming journey, Dr. Tyson said: "What's interesting to me is, while that (Rakesh Sharma's space flight) was kind of a one-off mission, right now, this voyage of an Indian astronaut can be seen as part of a broader context of India's reach into space and as a stepping stone, if you will, towards India having independent launches with its own astronauts as a nation going forward. And so, this has a little more significance than just a single astronaut gaining access to space. It has significance to the larger ambitions of India as a space-faring nation."
The Axiom-4 mission, a collaborative effort between Axiom Space, SpaceX, and NASA, will mark a historic moment for India as Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the first Indian to travel to space in 41 years, following cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma's journey aboard the Russian Soyuz T-11 spacecraft in 1984. Shukla will serve as the mission's pilot, with Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair as his backup. The crew also includes Commander Peggy Whitson (US), and mission specialists Slawosz Uzananski-Wisniewksi (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary).
INDIA'S INDIGENOUS SPACE PROGRAM
Regarding India's Gaganyaan mission—ISRO's first human spaceflight program scheduled for 2027—Dr. Tyson highlighted the importance of developing indigenous technologies: "I think that's a point of pride for the country. What Americans occasionally forget, is that our space programme was birthed in-part from expertise from German rocket engineers after the World War Two. So, it's not clear whether we could have done all of that ourselves. Maybe eventually, but not on the timetable that we felt necessary, because remember, we were competing with the Soviet Union at the time for these kinds of achievements...so to have indigenous technologies is important. In fact more important than who you're launching into space, because you can take ownership of all of the science and technology that goes into it."
INDIA'S LUNAR ACHIEVEMENT
Dr. Tyson also praised India's Chandrayaan-3 mission, emphasizing its true significance: "One point that I want to make, is that when India landed on the moon, many headlines around the world said 'India becomes the 4th nation to land on the moon', but I thought to myself, that's not the real headline. The real headline was 'India becomes the first nation to land softly on the south pole of the moon'. Russia tried to get there just a few days earlier and their mission failed. Remember, it is the south pole of the moon that is the next destination for us all, because as you said, there's water at the basin of craters there...which would be needed for long-term survival and for any mission that seeks a long-term presence there...So, I think India can be very proud of these accomplishments."
The launch window for Axiom-4 remains open until June 30, providing ample opportunities for liftoff. While a revised schedule hasn't been announced yet, the mission will depart from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida—the same historic site that supported NASA's Apollo 11 moon landing. Since 2014, this launch pad has been leased by Elon Musk's SpaceX for its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.