Axiom Mission 4 Set to Launch Today, Marks Global Space Milestone
- Axiom Mission 4 is set to launch at 2:31 a.m. EDT (12:01 p.m. IST) from Kennedy Space Center aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
- The four-member crew includes astronauts from India (ISRO), USA (NASA), Poland (ESA), and Hungary, marking a return to human spaceflight for several nations.
- This is Axiom Space’s fourth private mission to the ISS, highlighting growing international collaboration in commercial space exploration.
The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a landmark international private spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS), is set to launch today at 2:31 a.m. EDT (12:01 p.m. IST) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Organized by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX, the mission features a globally diverse four-member crew, symbolizing a significant stride in commercial and international space cooperation.
The crew will travel aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which will be launched into orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket. Docking with the ISS is expected around 7:00 a.m. EDT (4:30 p.m. IST) on Thursday, June 26. SpaceX confirmed the readiness of all systems via X (formerly Twitter), noting a 90 percent favorable weather forecast and announcing the launch webcast beginning at 12:30 a.m. EDT.
A highlight of the mission is Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, representing ISRO, who will serve as the mission’s pilot. Joining him are Peggy Whitson, a seasoned NASA astronaut; SÅawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from the European Space Agency (ESA) and Poland; and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. This mission marks a return to space for India, Poland, and Hungary after decades.
NASA also confirmed the final launch schedule on Tuesday, stating, “With @Axiom_Space and @SpaceX, we're now targeting Wednesday, June 25, to launch #Ax4 to the @Space_Station”.
The Ax-4 launch follows a series of delays due to weather and technical issues, including leaks in the Falcon 9 rocket. All concerns have since been addressed following rigorous reviews.
This fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS reflects a growing momentum in commercial spaceflight and global participation in space exploration.
