On June 25, 2025, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, carrying four private astronauts—Peggy Whitson (U.S.), Shubhanshu Shukla (India), Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary)—to the International Space Station (ISS) for a two-week mission.
Watch Falcon 9 launch Dragon and @Axiom_Space‘s Ax-4 mission to the @Space_Station https://t.co/OJYRpM5JCF
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 25, 2025
A little bit more of humanity is in space today. 🇺🇸🇮🇳🇵🇱🇭🇺
The four-member crew of #Ax4 includes astronauts from @ESA and @ISRO. @Axiom_Space‘s fourth private astronaut mission is set to arrive at the @Space_Station on Thursday, June 26: https://t.co/fnGkb4d64E pic.twitter.com/liUkioCr25
— NASA (@NASA) June 25, 2025
Docking on June 26, the crew, aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft, will conduct over 60 scientific experiments from 31 countries, including microgravity research on human physiology, microalgae, and technology, alongside STEM outreach.
Despite delays due to a Falcon 9 liquid oxygen leak and an ISS Zvezda module pressure issue, the mission highlights Axiom’s push for a commercial space station and international collaboration, with details available on NASA+, SpaceX, and Axiom Space’s platforms.