Axiom Space Ax-4 Crew Prepares for Launch on SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket: A Record-Breaking Journey to the ISS

The four astronauts of Ax-4, including Commander Peggy Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla from India, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, are poised to embark on their journey early on June 25th. This will be the fourth crew to fly for the private company Axiom Space, with Whitson already boasting a record-breaking space flight experience.

The Dragon spacecraft carrying the astronaut crew will rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS), with a launch window at 2:31 a.m. from NASA's Kennedy Space Center pad 39A. The Falcon 9 booster launching the crew is making its second flight, previously having launched a Starlink mission.

After liftoff, the crew will travel northeast and spend approximately two weeks onboard the ISS, overseeing 60 science and technology experiments. The Dragon spacecraft, which will be named in orbit by the crew, is related to the ship's zero-g indicator - a plush swan called Joy.

The launch has a 90% chance of favorable conditions, with the weather decreasing greatly for tomorrow’s opportunity. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is heading northeast upon liftoff, providing those north of the Space Coast with a great view.

During the mission, expect to see live coverage of Joy floating inside the spacecraft as the Dragon enters into orbit around the Earth. Additionally, a sonic boom is expected just more than nine minutes after liftoff, as the Falcon 9 booster returns to Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

This overnight launch is part of a SpaceX doubleheader, with a Starlink launch tentatively set for later on June 25th. The countdown timer is now active, and you can follow all the updates and live coverage on Florida Today.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Axiom Space Mission 4 launch!