NASA sets new potential launch date for Ax-4 mission to ISS

NASA is targeting June 19 for the launch of the Ax‑4 private astronaut mission to the ISS, pending resolution of an air leak in the Russian segment. The mission was delayed from its original June 11 date due to a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket and concerns over a persistent leak in the Zvezda module’s vestibule. While Roscosmos claims the issue has been fixed, NASA is still evaluating hatch seals for potential problems, Space News has reported. Meanwhile, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk renewed his call for retiring the aging space station by 2027, citing safety concerns and limited utility.