Cape Canaveral, FL — NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are gearing up for the launch of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), marking the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The liftoff is set for 8 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 11, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The Ax-4 crew will travel to the ISS on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket. The docking is planned for around 12:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, June 12.
Historic International Participation
Commanding the mission is Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and current director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space. She will be joined by:
- Shubhanshu Shukla, an astronaut from India’s space agency ISRO, serving as pilot;
- Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, ESA project astronaut from Poland;
- Tibor Kapu, astronaut from Hungary.
This mission stands out as it represents the inaugural occasion when astronauts from Poland and Hungary will reside and operate on the ISS. Additionally, it honors a commitment made through U.S.–India collaboration to send the first ISRO astronaut to the station, a promise made by former President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mission Objectives
Ax-4’s approximately two-week stay will focus on science, education, and commercial activities. NASA is responsible for integrated operations from the spacecraft’s approach through its stay and final departure from the ISS.
The mission includes:
- Five joint U.S.-India science investigations
- Two in-orbit STEM demonstrations
- Advancing commercial space partnerships to support NASA’s long-term goal of sustaining a low Earth orbit (LEO) economy while preparing for future Artemis missions to the Moon and Mars.
Coverage Schedule
NASA and Axiom Space will offer live coverage across their platforms:
Wednesday, June 11:
- 5:55 a.m. – Launch coverage begins via Axiom Space and SpaceX
- 7:05 a.m. – NASA joins coverage on NASA+
- 8:00 a.m. – Launch
(NASA coverage ends 15 minutes post-launch, after orbital insertion)
Thursday, June 12:
- 10:30 a.m. – Docking and arrival coverage begins
- 12:30 p.m. – Targeted docking at Harmony module
(Coverage continues through hatch opening and welcome remarks)
Media interested in participating in the prelaunch teleconference at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 9, must register via Axiom’s media link by Sunday, June 8.
