On June 19, 2025, history will be made as Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) lifts off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking a watershed moment for India, Poland, and Hungary. After overcoming a series of technical setbacks—including a liquid oxygen leak in the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket—the mission is now poised to launch, carrying a diverse crew of four astronauts representing three continents.
International Crew, Shared Ambition
The Ax-4 crew is led by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space’s director of human spaceflight, who will command the mission. Shubhanshu Shukla, a decorated Indian Air Force Group Captain and ISRO astronaut, will serve as pilot. Mission specialists include Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, both making their first journeys to space under the European Space Agency’s (ESA) banner.
For India, this flight marks the return to human spaceflight after more than four decades—since Rakesh Sharma’s historic 1984 mission aboard a Soviet spacecraft. For Poland and Hungary, it is similarly a return to government-sponsored space travel and their first-ever mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Scientific Milestones and Research Goals
The 14-day mission will be packed with scientific activity. The crew is set to conduct around 60 experiments developed by researchers from 31 countries, making this the most research-intensive Axiom mission to date. The scientific portfolio spans human research, Earth observation, and life sciences, with a strong emphasis on international collaboration.
ISRO is contributing several key experiments, including:
- Tardigrade Research: Studying the survival, revival, and reproduction of these ultra-resilient organisms in space, with potential implications for biotechnology and long-duration human spaceflight.
- Space Microalgae: Investigating the growth, metabolism, and genetic activity of edible microalgae, which could become a sustainable food source for future space missions.
- Cyanobacteria Studies: Analyzing the growth and biochemical responses of cyanobacteria in microgravity, aiming to integrate them into life support systems.
- Human-Computer Interaction: Assessing how astronauts interact with electronic displays in microgravity, to improve spacecraft design and reduce stress.
- Plant Growth: Shukla will grow green gram and fenugreek seeds to study germination and crop resilience in space, supporting the development of fresh food systems for astronauts
A New Era of Space Exploration
The Ax-4 mission is more than a scientific endeavor—it is a symbol of international unity and the growing role of commercial spaceflight. By partnering with Axiom Space and SpaceX, India, Poland, and Hungary are demonstrating how emerging space nations can leverage private sector innovation to accelerate their ambitions.
This mission is also a stepping stone for Axiom Space’s vision of building the first commercial space station, intended to eventually replace the aging ISS. Ax-4 showcases how government agencies, private companies, and international partners can work together to democratize access to space and expand the frontiers of human knowledge.
As the countdown to June 19 continues, the world watches with anticipation. The Ax-4 mission is not just a journey to the ISS—it is a leap forward for global space collaboration, scientific discovery, and the future of human spaceflight. For India, Poland, and Hungary, it is a moment of national pride and a powerful statement of their growing role on the international space stage.