SpaceX has reset the countdown clock for its crewed spaceflight, but NASA's latest decision has once again cast uncertainty over private space company Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station.

NASA stated in a Thursday announcement that, given the interconnected and interdependent nature of the space station's systems, more time is needed to assess the recent repairs to a leak on the Russian side of the station. NASA emphasized that ensuring the space station can accommodate additional crew members is critical, so they are carefully reviewing the relevant data.

As a result, the Falcon 9 rocket launch originally planned for Sunday morning has been scrubbed. NASA indicated that a new launch target will be determined in the coming days. As of June 30, launch windows are available daily, with the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the new Crew Dragon spacecraft set to launch from Kennedy Space Center, sending four private astronauts into space.

This Ax-4 mission will be Axiom Space's fourth trip to the station and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson's second time commanding it. Whitson will lead three astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary, who will spend about two weeks on the space station conducting over 60 experiments, some in collaboration with NASA.

Due to weather conditions and repairs to the Falcon 9 first-stage booster, SpaceX and Axiom Space's launch plans were already scrubbed last week. This latest delay stems from NASA's need for more time to monitor the space station partner Roscosmos' repairs to its Zvezda service module.

NASA expressed that they highly value the historic significance of this mission for India, Poland, Hungary, and the world. The astronauts remain in quarantine in Florida and will launch as soon as the space station is ready to receive them.

Private space station missions are part of Axiom Space's long-term plan to build its own space station. Although the Ax-4 mission was originally planned for 2024, it has faced a series of delays. For this mission, the Ax-4 crew will fly on SpaceX's fifth and final planned "Dragon" spacecraft.

Since its first crewed flight in 2020, SpaceX has flown its other four crewed Dragon spacecraft 17 times, successfully sending 64 astronauts into space.