Indian ISS Launch Delayed Over LOX Leak

The Ax-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has been postponed.

SpaceX identified a LOx (Liquid Oxygen) leak during booster inspections.

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The mission was delayed multiple times—from May 29 to June 8, then June 10, and finally June 11.

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LOx is crucial for rocket propulsion and is stored at -183°C.

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Falcon 9 rockets use LOx and RP-1 (refined kerosene) to fuel their engines.

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The LOx leak was found after a static fire test on June 9.

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The Falcon 9 booster used was previously deployed in a Starlink mission.

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SpaceX initially tried to fix the leak with a purge system, which failed.

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The rocket may need to be removed from the launch pad for repairs, causing further delays.

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ISRO confirmed the postponement, citing safety tests before rescheduling the launch.

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