Axiom Mission 4: A Return to Human Spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary
On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 2:31 a.m., Axiom Mission 4 will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. This two-week mission marks the return of India, Poland, and Hungary to government-sponsored human spaceflight after more than 40 years and will focus on scientific research, educational outreach, and technology demonstrations.
NASA is providing training and support for the mission, while SpaceX is managing the launch and spacecraft operations. The mission is the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS and the first government-sponsored spaceflight in more than four decades for India, Poland, and Hungary.
The Axiom Mission 4 crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson from the U.S., Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India, and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The crew is expected to spend approximately two weeks aboard the ISS, carrying out a mission focused on scientific research, educational outreach, commercial projects, and technology demonstrations in the Microgravity environment.
The mission has been rescheduled three times in June due to various issues, including high winds at the launch site, a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket, and a leak in the Russian segment of the ISS called the Zvezda module. Following the latest scrub, NASA and Axiom Space had to assess the leak and ensure the ISS is safe for docking.
Peggy Whitson is America’s most experienced astronaut, having spent 675 days in space and previously commanding the Axiom Mission 2. She now serves as Axiom Space’s director of human spaceflight and has held numerous leadership roles at NASA, including chief of the Astronaut Office and two-time ISS commander. Shubhanshu Shukla is a decorated Indian Air Force pilot and selected astronaut for India’s Gaganyaan mission, representing a significant milestone in India’s return to human spaceflight. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski is a Polish scientist and engineer selected for the ESA Astronaut Reserve Class of 2022 and brings extensive expertise in radiation-tolerant space systems to the mission. Tibor Kapu is a mechanical engineer from Hungary selected as a mission specialist after emerging as one of four finalists in the prestigious HUNOR Astronaut Program and brings technical expertise and a spirit of exploration to Hungary’s historic return to human spaceflight.
NASA is supporting the mission by offering training and resources, while SpaceX is handling the launch with its Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft. The success of this mission will not only mark a return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary but also showcase the capabilities of private companies like Axiom Space and SpaceX in managing complex space missions.
