The launch of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) space mission, which includes Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu, has been postponed once more following the detection of a pressure fluctuation aboard the International Space Station (ISS). NASA announced the delay on Thursday afternoon (Hungarian time), citing the need for further investigation in cooperation with Roscosmos, the Russian space agency.

According to NASA’s official update, the anomaly occurred in the rear segment of the ISS’s Zvezda service module, shortly after recent maintenance work. Cosmonauts onboard have since inspected the pressurized interior, isolated suspicious areas, and measured the current leakage rate. As of now, the module is reportedly maintaining stable pressure.

The delay will allow NASA and Roscosmos to thoroughly assess the situation and decide if additional repairs are necessary before safely proceeding with the launch.

Just a day earlier, the launch had already been delayed due to a liquid oxygen leak found during a routine systems check. Despite the repeated postponements, windows remain open in June and July for a potential liftoff once the ISS issue is resolved, said Ministerial Commissioner for Space Research Orsolya Ferencz at a press briefing in Florida.

Ferencz emphasized that the anomaly is unrelated to the Ax-4 crew or spacecraft, falling under the jurisdiction of NASA and Roscosmos. She noted that the crew remains in pre-launch quarantine, prepared for takeoff at short notice once clearance is granted.

Regarding the Hungarian astronaut, she stated that Tibor Kapu is handling the delays well, describing him as a resilient and optimistic personality, trained to adapt to such high-stakes situations.

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