After weeks of delays attributed to a minor leak in the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS), the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) successfully lifted off on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 2:31 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Aboard a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, the four-person crew is embarking on a two-week research expedition to the orbiting laboratory. SpaceX confirmed favorable conditions, stating on Tuesday, "All systems are looking good for Wednesday's launch of Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission to the Space Station and weather is 90% favorable for liftoff."
This groundbreaking mission is a testament to expanding global participation in space exploration, as it includes the first government-sponsored astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary to visit the ISS in over 40 years. The diverse crew is led by Commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space. She is joined by pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
Commander Whitson emphasized the mission's broader impact, stating, "With a culturally diverse crew, we are not only advancing scientific knowledge but also fostering international collaboration." The crew is scheduled to dock with the station's Harmony module at approximately 7 a.m. EDT on Thursday, June 26, and will undertake a comprehensive program of approximately 60 scientific studies representing 31 countries. These studies include research into human physiology and biology, Earth observation, material sciences, and life sciences, with notable projects focusing on cancer research in low-Earth orbit and an ultrasound assessment of joint health after spaceflight.
The launch followed diligent work by NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos to address concerns over a leak in the Zvezda service module's transfer tunnel. Though a persistent leak in this module has been monitored for over five years, a new pressure signature prompted a mission postponement on June 12. Following evaluations and a decision to further lower pressure in the tunnel, both agencies agreed to proceed. Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro highlighted the strong working relationship: "NASA and Roscosmos have a long history of cooperation and collaboration on the International Space Station. This professional working relationship has allowed the agencies to arrive at a shared technical approach and now Axiom Mission 4 launch and docking will proceed."
The Ax-4 mission also underscores Axiom Space's strategic vision for establishing commercial operations in low Earth orbit, with future plans to deploy its own private space station modules. For India, Shubhanshu Shukla's participation fulfills a commitment made by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first ISRO astronaut to the ISS, signifying a major step in India-US space cooperation and ISRO's broader aspirations, including its Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. The mission signifies a truly global endeavor, pushing the boundaries of scientific research and international partnership in space.
