WASHINGTON – Axiom Space has had a crew approved for its fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, according to NASA.
The space administration announced Wednesday that it had made the decision with its international partners.
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Launching no earlier than spring 2025, the crew of Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4, will use a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule to visit the space station for a stay of up to 14 days conducting science experiments, outreach and commercial activities, NASA said in a news release. The mission will loft the first astronauts from Poland and Hungary to the space station, as well as the first Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) astronaut as a joint effort between NASA and the Indian space agency, the release states.
The crew of Ax-4 was introduced as follows:
- Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, commander
- ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, pilot
- European Space Agency project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, mission specialist
- Tibor Kapu of Hungary, mission specialist
“I am excited to see continued interest and dedication for the private astronaut missions aboard the International Space Station,” Dana Weigel, manager of NASA’s International Space Station Program at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, said in a statement. “As NASA looks toward the future of low Earth orbit, private astronaut missions help pave the way and expand access to the unique microgravity environment.”
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Ax-1 launched in April 2022 for what ended up being a 17-day stay aboard the space station. Whitson commanded the following mission, Ax-2, which launched in May 2023 for an eight-day stay. Most recently, Ax-3 launched in January 2024, during which the crew spent 18 days docked.
“Working with the talented and diverse Ax-4 crew has been a deeply rewarding experience,” Whitson said in a statement. “Witnessing their selfless dedication and commitment to expanding horizons and creating opportunities for their nations in space exploration is truly remarkable. Each crew member brings unique strengths and perspectives, making our mission not just a scientific endeavor, but a testament to human ingenuity and teamwork. The importance of our mission is about pushing the limits of what we can achieve together and inspiring future generations to dream bigger and reach farther.”
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