During a pre-flight static-fire test at SpaceX’s Starbase in southern Texas late Wednesday (11 p.m. local), the Starship 36 prototype suffered a "major anomaly," erupting in a dramatic fireball . The blast was powerful enough to shake nearby homes, yet a established safety perimeter ensured no injuries or threats to surrounding communities . Videos captured the explosion, with flames and smoke continuing for hours . Identified as a COPV failure, the incident delays the planned tenth launch test while investigators assess the root cause .Despite setbacks, SpaceX remains committed to its learn‑fast ethos and ambitious missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. (PC: Reuters)

NASA and Axiom Space, in coordination with ISRO and SpaceX, have confirmed the Axiom‑4 crewed mission to the ISS will launch on June 22, 2025 at 1:12 pm IST, after prior delays caused by technical glitches, weather issues, LOx leaks, and ISS repair work . The four‑member crew includes Indian pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, SpaceX commander Peggy Whitson, and ESA specialists from Poland and Hungary. Originally scheduled for May and later June 19, the launch was postponed to allow extra time for safety evaluations aboard the ISS and Falcon 9 readiness. This marks a major milestone in international human spaceflight collaboration and India’s return to crewed missions after 41 years. (PC: News 18)

A SpaceX Starship prototype erupted into a massive fireball during a routine static engine test at the Starbase facility in Texas late Wednesday around 11 p.m. CT. The vehicle—Ship 36—experienced a “major anomaly” before its tenth flight test, triggering a dramatic explosion visible on live stream. SpaceX confirmed a safety perimeter was in place; all personnel are safe, and there’s no hazard to nearby communities. Local authorities and SpaceX crews have secured the site and are investigating the cause. The incident will likely delay the tenth Starship flight, as the company continues its rapid iter‑ate test approach.

The Axiom-4 space mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) has been delayed again, with launch now targeted for June 22. Initially scheduled for May 29, the mission faced multiple postponements due to technical issues, including a Falcon-9 rocket oxygen leak and repairs on the ISS’s Zvezda module. Shukla will be the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma. The crew, led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, includes astronauts from Poland and Hungary. They will conduct 60 scientific experiments during their 14-day stay. Axiom Space confirmed the crew is in good health and quarantine. (PC: News18)

The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax‑4), a private crewed flight to the International Space Station via SpaceX, has been delayed yet again. Originally set for June 19, then June 22, NASA, Axiom Space and SpaceX now target “no earlier than” Sunday, June 22, 2025, pending further inspection. The hold‑up stems from recent repair work on the ISS’s aging Russian Zvezda module and earlier liquid‑oxygen leakage in Falcon 9’s first stage. Crew includes Peggy Whitson (commander), India’s Shubhanshu Shukla (pilot), plus mission specialists from Poland and Hungary. The mission’s 14‑day scientific agenda spans 60+ experiments, marking the first ISS expedition for these nations. Safety and station integrity continue to guide schedule adjustments. (PC: NASA)

ISRO, in coordination with Axiom Space, SpaceX, and NASA, has announced that the Axiom‑4 mission—featuring Indian pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla—will now launch on June 19, 2025, from Kennedy Space Center, aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 . Engineers successfully addressed a liquid oxygen leak in the rocket and investigated a pressure anomaly in the ISS’s Zvezda module . After five postponements—due to technical and ISS-related delays—Shukla’s 14‑day mission marks India’s return to human spaceflight since 1984. Experiments include nutrition, plant biology, and joint ISRO–NASA studies, with Peggy Whitson commanding alongside ESA and Hungarian crew members. (PC: IANS)

India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, aboard the commercial Axiom‑4 mission to the International Space Station, is now scheduled to launch on June 19, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, following repeated delays caused by a liquid‑oxygen leak and an ISS pressure anomaly. This marks India’s re‑entry into human spaceflight alongside Poland and Hungary, with a 14‑day mission focusing on scientific research under a joint ISRO–NASA–ESA initiative . ISRO emphasizes that all technical issues have been resolved and crew safety remains paramount before updating future launch details. (PC: X)

India’s Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, set to become the first Indian aboard the ISS in over 40 years, will now launch on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax‑4) on June 19, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 . Earlier launches (May 29, June 8–11) faced delays due to weather, a LOX leak during Falcon 9 hot-fire tests, an engine actuator issue, and an air leak aboard the ISS’s Zvezda module . ISRO emphasized astronaut safety and mission integrity while coordinating with NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX. Shukla will conduct seven India-designed experiments alongside international crew members Peggy Whitson, Sławosz Uznański, and Tibor Kapu. (PC: India Today)

Kerala Agricultural University, in collaboration with IIST and ISRO, has dispatched native seeds—rice, tomato, eggplant, sesame, pulses—to the International Space Station aboard Axiom‑4 to assess microgravity’s impact on germination, growth, gene expression, resilience, nutritional content, and microbiology . Scientists aim to test whether space-exposed seeds develop traits beneficial for climate‑stressed agriculture back home. These are part of seven ambitious Indian experiments on Ax‑4, also exploring microalgae, muscle atrophy, digital interface impacts, tardigrades, and cyanobacteria . Results after the 14‑day mission could pave the way for space‑based farming and enhanced Earth agriculture using resilient seed varieties. (PC: Mathrubhumi)

India has invested an estimated ₹550–600 crore over a training span of 700+ hours to prepare IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla for the historic Axiom-4 space mission to the International Space Station. This rigorous NASA-led training includes spacecraft systems, survival drills, and research protocols for over 60 experiments during his 2-week stay. Shukla will fly aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, marking India’s second human spaceflight since Rakesh Sharma in 1984. The mission is a crucial step toward India’s Gaganyaan program and global space ambitions. (PC: X)