Why NASA Launched Axiom 4 Mission To International Space Station?

Axiom Mission 4 launch on June 25: India's first government-backed spaceflight since 1984, with Poland and Hungary joining the historic ISS mission led by Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX.

The Falcon 9 rocket with the Axiom 4 mission.

Source : SpaceX

In a historic leap for international space collaboration, Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) launched at 12:01 PM on Wednesday, June 25, marking the first government-sponsored spaceflight in over 40 years for India, as well as Poland and Hungary. The mission is being executed by Axiom Space, in partnership with NASA and SpaceX.

The four-member crew lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) on a newly designed SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, with docking expected around 7 AM IST on June 26.

WATCH LIVE STREAM | Axiom 4 Launch Livestream Starts: Here's How To Watch The NASA, SpaceX Broadcast

What Makes Axiom Mission 4 Historic?

Ax-4 is the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS by Axiom Space. However, this mission is unique as it marks the first-ever joint flight involving three nations — India, Poland, and Hungary — whose governments have each sponsored a human spaceflight mission for the first time since the 1980s. It also makes this mission the second-ever human spaceflight in the history of each of these countries.

The crew will spend nearly two weeks aboard the space station, conducting a wide array of activities spanning scientific research, educational outreach, and commercial development.

Who Are the Axiom Mission 4 Astronauts?

Peggy Whitson (Commander): Former NASA astronaut and one of the most experienced space travellers in history. She now serves as the Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space.

Shubhanshu Shukla (Pilot): Representing India and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Shukla becomes the first Indian astronaut to fly to space since Rakesh Sharma in 1984.He will be the first Indian national on the ISS.

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Mission Specialist): A European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut representing Poland, he follows in the footsteps of Mirosław Hermaszewski, who flew in 1978.

Tibor Kapu (Mission Specialist): The representative of Hungary’s space program HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit), Kapu becomes Hungary’s second astronaut after Bertalan Farkas (1980).

Axiom 4 Mission Purpose

Axiom Mission 4 will carry out approximately 60 scientific experiments and outreach activities involving 31 countries, including India, the US, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and several European nations. The research will span areas like human health, space agriculture, microgravity physics, and climate technology.

This mission also aims to demonstrate the growing role of private companies in facilitating international human spaceflight and the expanding use of the ISS for commercial and diplomatic initiatives.

Axiom 4 Launch Details

Mission Name: Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)

Launcher Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9

Launch Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Launch Time: 12:01 PM IST

Launch Site: Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Docking Time: Around 7 AM IST, Thursday, June 26

Mission Duration: ~14 days aboard the ISS

Why Axiom Mission 4 Is Important

Axiom Mission 4 marks a new era in space exploration. With this mission, private enterprise, national pride, and scientific advancement are coming together. It also marks a symbolic return to human spaceflight for nations that have long been absent from crewed missions. Axiom 4 also reflects a wider trend of democratisation of access to space.