Axiom Space Ax-4 Mission: Crew Liftoff on SpaceX Falcon 9 | NASA Kennedy

Axiom Space Ax-4 Mission: Crew Liftoff on SpaceX Falcon 9 | NASA Kennedy

The crew of Axiom Space's Ax-4 Mission successfully lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 2:31 a.m. EDT. The spacecraft will dock autonomously to the space-facing port of the International Space Station’s Harmony module at approximately 7 a.m. EDT on Thursday, June 26. Veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson is commanding Ax-4. She is flying on her fifth mission to the orbiting lab. She is leading first time space flyers Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uzanański-Wiśniewksi from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The four private astronauts are to have a two-week stay on the orbital laboratory to conduct a wide array of space research supporting human health, space commercialization, and more. 

The Ax-4 crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson of the United States, Mission Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of the European Space Agency (ESA)/Poland, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary. 

Once docked, the Ax-4 astronauts plan to spend up to 14 days onboard implementing a full mission comprised of microgravity research, technology demonstrations, educational outreach, and media events.

The Ax-4 Mission will “realize the return” to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation’s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. While Ax-4 marks these countries' second human spaceflight mission in history, it will be the first time all three nations will execute a mission on board the International Space Station.

The Ax-4 research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe.

Ax-4 Crew

Peggy Whitson (United States)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/peggy-whitson

Shubhanshu Shukla (India)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/shubhanshu-shukla

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/slawosz-uznanski

Tibor Kapu (Hungary)
https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/tibor-kapu

Learn more about Ax-4: 
https://www.axiomspace.com/missions/ax4

Image Credits: SpaceX/European Space Agency (ESA)

Release Date: June 25, 2025

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