The fourth mission of Axiom SpaceAX-4, successfully took off at dawn on Wednesday (25). After postponements, the private company launched four astronauts aboard the Crew Dragon capsule Spacexin the Falcon 9 rocket.
The mission will take them to the International Space Station, where they will remain for about two weeks and will perform dozens of scientific studies. The expectation is that the Capsule arrive at ISS only tomorrow.
Axiom Space Mission suffered delays
The launch of AX-4, the fourth mission of the private company Axiom Space, was scheduled for Sunday (22). However, NASA asked more time to evaluate the operations of the International Space Station after recent repairs to the subsequent segment of the Zvezda Service Module, to ensure the safety of the crew. Learn more here.
Axiom Space and Spacex, responsible for launching the mission aboard Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon, announced the postponement, initially without a date set. Already on Tuesday (24), the companies communicated a new attempt for the dawn on Wednesday.
The astronauts were released at 3:31 am (Brasília time), directly from the 39a launch complex at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They must land on ISS tomorrow.
See how the release went:
Falcon 9 Launches Ax-4, Dragon’s 18th Human Spaceflight Mission pic.twitter.com/gvndujfrvh
– Spacex (@spacex) June 25, 2025
Falcon 9’s First Stage Booster Has Landed at Landing Zone 1 pic.twitter.com/i5gi376fca
– Spacex (@spacex) June 25, 2025
The first stage of Falcon 9 back safely to the base. You can watch the complete broadcast of the release In this link.
What will the AX-4 mission be like at the International Space Station?
AX-4 has four astronauts from four different countries. Meet each one of them:
- PEGGY WHITSONof the United States will be the commander of the mission. She is the director of Axiom’s manned flights and former NASA Astronaut;
- Shubhanshu shuklafrom India will be the pilot and captain of the group. He is an Indian Air Force test pilot;
- SłAWOSZ UZNAńSKI-WIśNIEWSKIfrom Poland, will be a mission expert. He is a scientist and engineer, having worked at the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Geneva;
- Kapi Tiborfrom Hungary, will also be a mission expert. He is a mechanical engineer.
When they arrive at the International Space Station, the quartet will hold more than 60 investigations and educational dissemination events in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Remember that Axiom Space flight is private. Astronauts are being sponsored by their respective countries.
According to the The New York TimesResorting to the private sector is a good alternative for nations that do not have a strong space program. In addition, the United States has been shown to be its own with private initiatives, such as axiom and Spacex itself.
Unlike Hungary and Poland, India has a strengthened space program, including expected to launch manned missions soon. In a statementthe country’s space department revealed that private flight is “a new era of spatial exploitation.”
Read more:
