NASA has announced that a private astronaut mission, Ax-4, could potentially launch to the International Space Station (ISS) as early as June 19. This comes as NASA works to address an air leak issue in the Russian segment of the space station.

In a statement released on June 14, NASA revealed that it is collaborating with Axiom Space and SpaceX to review launch opportunities for the Ax-4 mission. The earliest possible launch date is June 19.

The initial launch date for the mission was set for June 11 but was postponed due to a liquid oxygen leak in one of the engines of the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage. Subsequent repairs were completed, and the launch was rescheduled for June 13. However, NASA decided to delay the launch on June 12 to allow for an assessment of a new pressure signature in a Russian ISS module following recent maintenance work.

The assessment focused on a vestibule known as PrK at one end of the Zvezda module, which has had a small leak for several years. Despite previous attempts to seal it, the pressure in PrK remained stable after recent work, indicating that the leaks may have been sealed. NASA is now evaluating the condition of the transfer tunnel and hatch seal between the space station and the back of Zvezda to ensure the safety of the station.

SpaceX has also addressed the liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 booster, confirming the repair through a tanking test conducted on June 12. Progress is being made in the evaluation process, allowing NASA to plan for new launch opportunities for the Ax-4 mission.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, has once again raised concerns about the long-term safety of the ISS, calling for its retirement within two years. Musk believes that certain parts of the ISS are aging and pose risks over time. He suggested that deep space Starship missions could replace the ISS, although details on how these missions would continue the research conducted on the space station remain unclear.

This is not the first time Musk has advocated for an early retirement of the ISS, which is currently scheduled for retirement around 2030. NASA's budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 includes plans to continue the ISS until 2030, albeit with budget cuts that would impact its crew size and research activities.