New Delhi, June 18 -- Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday said that the much-anticipated Axiom-4 space mission, which includes participation by Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is not expected to launch before June 22, citing safety as a key factor in finalising the launch date.

On the Axiom 4 mission, Singh told reporters, "We have been told that it won't be before 22nd June. There is a safety angle also involved here."

Following the rescheduling of the launch, Axiom Space said in an official statement that NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are now targeting no earlier than Sunday, June 22, for the launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4.

The change in the ...