Axiom-4 Mission Set To Launch From Florida’s Kennedy Space Center Today

Axiom Space will launch the pioneering Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Organised by Axiom Space in partnership with NASA and SpaceX, the mission is a landmark event in commercial space exploration, featuring a multinational crew.

SpaceX will launch the mission at 2:31 AM EDT (12:01 PM IST) with four astronauts aboard the Dragon spacecraft.

The crew is expected to dock with the ISS around 7:00 AM EDT (4:30 PM IST) on Thursday, June 26.

A diverse international crew

Among the crew members is Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, representing the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

He will serve as the mission’s pilot.

Accompanying him are veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sławosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu.

For India, Hungary, and Poland, this launch also marks a renewed participation in human spaceflight after several decades.

NASA confirmed the finalised schedule on Tuesday through its official social media channels, stating, “With @Axiom_Space and @SpaceX, we’re now targeting Wednesday, June 25, to launch #Ax4 to the @Space_Station.”

SpaceX also reported that the systems check was complete and weather conditions were 90% favourable for launch.

SpaceX will begin a live webcast at 12:30 AM EDT.

Delays & preparations

The Ax-4 mission has experienced several delays due to adverse weather conditions and technical issues, including minor leaks detected in the Falcon 9 rocket.

After comprehensive safety checks and corrective measures, the mission further received clearance to proceed.

Meanwhile, this is the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS under Axiom Space’s expanding commercial programme, reflecting rising global interest in space cooperation beyond traditional government-led efforts.

The mission is a strategic step forward in democratising space access, with private companies and emerging space nations playing an increasingly active role.

For India, Shubhanshu Shukla’s participation under ISRO’s banner represents a critical milestone, inspiring a new generation of Indian space scientists and enthusiasts.

Axiom Space aims to bolster international collaboration and drive innovation in space science through the Axiom-4 mission, paving the way for future commercial missions and research aboard the ISS and beyond.

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