Axiom Space Launches Fourth Private Mission to the ISS After Multiple Delays
After several postponements, Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut mission (AX-4) is now en route to the International Space Station (ISS). The four-member international crew launched successfully aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, carried by a Falcon 9 rocket, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:31 a.m. EDT on Wednesday. Docking with the ISS is expected around 7 a.m. EDT on Thursday.
Just before launch, SpaceX mission control sent off the crew with a lighthearted message: “Enjoy the ride and science the heck out of all your experiments.”
Nine minutes after liftoff, the spacecraft reached orbit, beginning its 28-hour journey to the ISS. SpaceX also successfully landed the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster approximately seven minutes into the mission, just nine miles from the launch site. The booster is slated for reuse on future missions.
There was a moment of concern before launch when mission control encountered difficulty uploading wind condition data to the Dragon’s launch escape system—data essential for targeting a safe splashdown zone in the event of an emergency.
The mission had faced several prior delays due to technical issues with the Falcon 9 booster and repairs needed on the Russian-built Zvezda Service Module aboard the ISS. A new pressure anomaly was recently detected near a long-standing leak in Zvezda, but NASA and Roscosmos resolved the issue with a shared technical solution.
“NASA and Roscosmos have a strong history of cooperation aboard the ISS,” said acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro. “This collaboration enabled us to move forward with the AX-4 launch.”
AX-4 marks another step forward in Axiom’s goal to build the world’s first commercial space station, Axiom Station, planned to succeed the ISS when it’s retired in 2030. This is Axiom’s fourth mission to the ISS since partnering with NASA in 2022. While aboard, the astronauts will conduct research, training, and scientific activities.
“The AX-4 crew exemplifies international teamwork and human potential,” said Allen Flynt, Axiom’s chief of mission services. “Over the past 10 months, they’ve trained diligently, meeting high standards for safety and scientific performance.”
This mission is flying on a newly built Dragon spacecraft named Grace, while the Falcon 9 booster is being used for the second time. SpaceX has introduced design upgrades to the capsule, including enhancements to storage, propulsion, and seat restraints.
“This is Grace’s first flight, carrying an international team—a great way to debut,” said SpaceX’s William Gerstenmaier, VP of build and flight reliability.
Commanding the mission is Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and current director of human spaceflight at Axiom. Whitson, who previously spent 665 days in space over three NASA missions and commanded Axiom’s AX-2 mission in 2023, now holds the record for the most cumulative time in space by a woman.
“She’s a trailblazer,” said Dana Weigel, manager of NASA’s ISS Program. “This will be her fifth spaceflight and second with Axiom.”
Joining Whitson are three astronauts representing India, Poland, and Hungary—their nations’ first ISS visitors and first human spaceflights in over four decades.
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Shubhanshu Shukla, Indian Air Force pilot and AX-4 pilot, becomes only the second Indian in space since 1984.
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Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewsk, Polish engineer and ESA project astronaut, is the second Pole in space since 1978.
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Tibor Kapu, Hungarian mechanical engineer and mission specialist, is Hungary’s second astronaut; the country’s last mission was in 1980.
“For these nations, it’s a historic return to space after 40+ years,” said Flynt. “It’s a testament to global cooperation and ambition.”
The AX-4 mission is scheduled to last up to 14 days. During that time, the crew will conduct around 60 scientific experiments in biology, material science, life science, and Earth observation, with contributions from 31 countries. The research supports Axiom’s vision of a future commercial station in low Earth orbit.
Axiom plans to attach several of its modules to the ISS in the coming years. When the ISS is decommissioned, those modules will detach and form the standalone Axiom Station.
Unlike space tourism flights, AX-4 is part of NASA’s private astronaut mission program, which gives selected commercial companies access to the ISS along with NASA’s technical and logistical support.
“NASA provides a framework, but the industry leads the launch, operations, and return,” Weigel explained. “It’s a transformative time for spaceflight.”
SpaceX’s Dragon program has now completed 52 launches and 17 crewed missions, carrying 66 astronauts from 17 nations, delivering 300,000 pounds of cargo to the ISS, and enabling more than 1,000 microgravity experiments.
