Axiom Space has secured another trip to the International Space Station after NASA selected the Houston-based company for a fifth commercial crew mission to the orbital outpost.
Axiom Mission 5 could launch as early as January 2027 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, with a four-person crew spending approximately two weeks conducting research and technology demonstrations aboard the station. The actual launch date will depend on spacecraft scheduling and ISS operational needs.
NASA chose Axiom through a competitive process outlined in the agency’s March 2025 Research Announcement. The selection continues a pattern of relying on private missions to maximize utilization of the aging laboratory before its eventual retirement.
Axiom 4 lifts off from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center on June 25, 2025. Photo: Charles Boyer
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman framed the announcement as proof that commercial human spaceflight has matured from proof-of-concept flights into routine operations—capabilities the agency views as essential groundwork for lunar and Martian expeditions.
The ISS Program Office sees these commercial visits as opportunities to cultivate new markets and validate technologies while preserving the station’s scientific and diplomatic functions. As NASA works toward handing off low Earth orbit operations to private providers, missions like Ax-5 serve as both revenue generators and testbeds for the post-ISS era.
As before, the mission will fly aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon, launched by a Falcon 9.
Axiom Crews
Mission
Launch Date
Crew
Axiom-1
April 8, 2022
Michael López-Alegría(Cmdr)— USA/SpainLarry Connor(Pilot)— USAEytan Stibbe(MS)— IsraelMark Pathy(MS)— Canada
Axiom-2
May 21, 2023
Peggy Whitson(Cmdr)— USAJohn Shoffner(Pilot)— USAAli Alqarni(MS)— Saudi ArabiaRayyanah Barnawi(MS)— Saudi Arabia
Axiom-3
January 18, 2024
Michael López-Alegría(Cmdr)— USA/SpainWalter Villadei(Pilot)— ItalyAlper Gezeravcı(MS)— TurkeyMarcus Wandt(MS)— Sweden
Axiom will nominate its crew roster for Axiom 5 to NASA for its approval and international partner agencies. Selected astronauts will then complete training alongside NASA personnel and the spacecraft operator before flight.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy conducts a spacewalk in a Collins Aerospace EMU to set up the Tranquility module for the future installation of a NanoRacks airlock that will enable public and commercial research on the outside of the International Space Station. Cassidy has completed 10 spacewalks throughout his career for a total of 54 hours and 51 minutes spacewalking time. Photo: NASA
Collins Aerospace, a North Carolina-based major aerospace contractor with deep roots in Brevard County, is under scrutiny following a critical NASA Inspector General report that highlights serious performance issues with the company’s management of the spacesuits used on the International Space Station.
Collins is a unit of RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies) and it employs thousands in Brevard County and plays a pivotal role in Florida’s aerospace ecosystem. The company supports not only the ISS program but also numerous spaceflight systems through partnerships with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and commercial space providers operating along the Space Coast.
With over 110 missions and nearly 300 spacewalks to its credit, the Collins Extra Vehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) is an integral part of the ISS and a key component of the American space program. Spacecraft in their own right, these complex systems allow human extracurricular activities outside of ISS where the crew can perform repair, insulation, experiment retrieval and other vital activities for the ongoing functionality of the orbiting outpost. Simply put, they are critical items, even if the general public often takes them for granted.
The Report
You can read the report for yourself below, or download it to read in Acrobat Reader or a similar PDF viewer.
18 EMU suits were originally manufactured, and the last time a number was reported — in 2017 — the number of functioning EMUs had dropped to 11, and conventional wisdom in the space industry holds that there are fewer than the eight-year old 2017 count still working.
Overview of the EMU Graphic: NASA
While the EMU is a venerable piece of hardware that has served NASA for decades, it is close to its end of life. Now, a NASA audit, released this week by NASA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), paints a troubling picture of Collins’ work under the $1.5 billion Extravehicular Activity Space Operations Contract (ESOC).
Collins was originally awarded in 2010 for $324 million, the contract has ballooned in size and scope as the ISS mission has been extended through 2030, presumably the same year ISS will be deorbited.
NASA Findings
The report cites repeated delays in delivering life support components, including the fan pump separator and carbon dioxide sensors, which are essential to astronaut safety. In some cases, components originally due in 2020 and 2022 have still not been delivered.
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) With Water in Helmet During Post-EVA 23 Screening Test. S–2013–199–00005 Photo: NASA
Summary of Deficiencies cited by NASA
Category
Deficiency
Danger
Water Intrusion in Helmets
NASA documented multiple incidents where water leaked into astronauts’ helmets during spacewalks, including a 2013 event and another in 2022.
These events pose severe risks of asphyxiation, vision impairment, and communication failure during extravehicular activities.
Thermal Regulation Failures
Malfunctions in cooling systems, especially the sublimator units, have caused problems regulating suit temperature.
Uncontrolled temperatures can lead to overheating or hypothermia, endangering astronaut health and limiting operational capability.
Injuries from Suit Fit and Design Limitations
The bulky and rigid design has led to physical injuries, particularly in the shoulders and hands, due to poor fit and restricted mobility.
These injuries can impair astronaut performance and require medical attention, possibly compromising mission objectives.
Delayed Delivery of Critical Components
Collins has experienced years-long delays in delivering essential life support components, such as fan pump separators and carbon dioxide sensors.
These delays reduce the number of available functioning suits, increasing the risk of suit failure and EVA cancellations.
Obsolescence of Replacement Parts
Many suit components are no longer manufactured, and suppliers have exited the market, making replacements difficult.
Continued use of obsolete or expired parts increases the likelihood of system failure during missions.
Quality Control Failures
Instances were reported where expired, incorrectly built, or inadequately tested components were installed or shipped, including a component that remained on the ISS two decades past expiration.
These failures compromise suit integrity and astronaut safety, raising the risk of malfunctions in space.
Inadequate Management of EVA Anomalies
Collins and NASA experienced delays in identifying and resolving anomalies, such as the 2024 umbilical unit water leak that led to a spacewalk cancellation.
Slow responses to real-time issues increase the risk of loss of life support functions and mission failure.
Cost Overruns and Schedule Failures
Over the past three fiscal years, Collins exceeded planned costs by an appreciable amount.
These financial and schedule inefficiencies strain NASA’s resources and delay the availability of safe, functioning suits.
Inflated Contractor Performance Ratings
Despite repeated failures, Collins received high performance scores and a majority of available award fees, which the Inspector General deemed inconsistent with actual results.
Overly generous evaluations reduce accountability and hinder meaningful performance improvement.
NASA’s own evaluations, according to the report, appear to inflate Collins’ performance scores, particularly in technical management and safety compliance, despite “persistent schedule, cost, and quality problems.” In 2023, NASA took the unusual step of sending a formal letter to Collins leadership expressing dissatisfaction across multiple contracts — including ESOC.
NASA management concurred with most of the report’s recommendations and committed to updating evaluation criteria and reassessing award fee practices by the end of 2025. However, they defended the current scores as fair within the broader context of the contract’s scope.
For its part, Collins says it has been troubled by supply chain issues, schedule delays, cost overruns. These problems have threatened NASA’s ability to conduct safe and timely spacewalks, a critical function for ISS maintenance and research.
As of the time of this writing, the company has not responded publicly to the NASA OIG report.
Collins Dropped Out Of Next-Gen Spacesuit Development
In 2019, NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel strongly recommended a complete EMU replacement due to the aging technology in the long-running program. In 2022, NASA selected Collins and Axiom Space to develop the next-generation spacesuit systems needed for the Artemis Project and for ISS. Collins was tasked with building the ISS suit, Axiom with the lunar suit.
Things seemed to be going well for Collins in their efforts as they developed and tested their new systems.
A Collins Aerospace rendering of their lunar suit. Graphic: Collins Aerospace
In 2024, however, Collins dropped out of the program. It was said that NASA and Collins felt that the development timeline would not support the space station’s schedule and NASA’s mission objectives, and thus the contract with Collins was mutually descoped.
Industry chatter suggested at the time that Collins’s program was encountering cost overruns and technical challenges, and that under a fixed-price or tightly constrained contract environment, continuing the program would have risked further losses.
Whether or not that conjecture was true is immaterial: Collins was out, Axiom Space and the AxEMU were the only game in town. Until Axiom’s suit was ready to take over Artemis and ISS use, Collins would continue to support the current EMU. That work is under scrutiny from the NASA OIG Report.
The Next Generation Suit – On The Way And Apparently On Track
AxEMU Suit Photo: Axiom Space
As mentioned above, Axiom Space is the sole vendor preparing the next generation of spacesuits for NASA and presumably for other customers.
Axiom describes their ISS version of the suit: “Similar to the Artemis III spacesuit, the Axiom Space ISS suit will be built to accommodate a wide range of crew members … provide increased flexibility … life support systems, pressure garments, and power avionics and communication.”
SpaceX
While SpaceX and the Polaris Dawn flight made a lot of noise in 2024 with its EVA, it should be noted that the SpaceX suit tested was not even the old EMU’s equal in terms of environmental control, autonomy, duration, robustness, and task flexibility. The SpaceX suits were intermediate or developmental EVA-capable suits, not yet the full “go-anywhere, high-complexity” spacesuit used by NASA for ISS or lunar EVAs. Theirs is a program still in development.
Currently the AxEMU is undergoing testing and development, focusing on preparation for NASA’s Artemis missions. Recently, for the first time, two AxEMU suits were tested at the same time in the in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA Sonny Carter Training Facility in Houston. Last month astronaut Walter Villadei took part in an integral test of the AxEMU using lunar-task tools, to evaluate stowage, deployment, and usability of tools under realistic constraints.
Two AxEMU suits being tested underwater in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston. Photo: NASA
No specific date for testing the new AxEMU suit in space has been given, but multiple sources say that the company is shooting for a Critical Design Review late in 2025 or early 2026. Following the resolution of any action items, the AxEMU may be tested in orbit on ISS prior to being put to work on the lunar surface as part of the Artemis landings.
What’s better than one suit? TWO suits! 🧑🚀🧑🚀@NASA and @Axiom_Space teams held the first dual spacesuit run at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory with NASA astronauts wearing Axiom Space’s lunar spacesuit. This was the final integration test, proving both the spacesuit and… pic.twitter.com/8P04fyCXu3
As the International Space Station nears its 2030 planned retirement, both American and European players are accelerating efforts to ensure a continued human presence in low Earth orbit (LEO). American companies are spearheading multiple commercial station projects, while Europe is increasingly aligning itself as a strategic partner in the emerging space economy.
NASA has taken a clear stance: rather than replace the ISS with another government-owned platform, it’s backing private companies to build and operate commercial stations. Through its Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLD) program, NASA is funding early design and development, with plans to purchase services as a customer once the stations are operational.
Here are where the key U.S. projects stand:
Axiom Station (Axiom Space)
Axiom Hab 1 under construction Photo: Axiom Space
Axiom will launch its first module to the ISS in 2026, marking the beginning of the Axiom Station. Only one module, the Payload Power Thermal Module (AxPPTM), will be attached to ISS. When Habitat 1 (AxH1) is launched, AxPPTM will detach from ISS and will dock with AxH1, separate from NASA’s orbiting outpost.
Axiom’s roadmap for station development Graphic: Axiom Space
Axiom already has experience flying private missions to the ISS, is building new EVA spacesuits, and is one of the most advanced competitors in the commercial space station market in terms of flight readiness.
Let’s hope they come up with some friendlier names for each of the modules.
Haven-1 & Haven Demo (Vast Space)
Vast Space is building a modular station beginning with Haven-1, planned for launch in May 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. It will support short-duration missions for four crew members and is designed to operate autonomously before more complex modules are added.
Artist’s rendering of Vast-1, which is currently under construction.
Ahead of Haven-1, Vast will launch a Haven Demo mission — a critical uncrewed test flight that will validate life support systems, power, comms, and other station functions. This demo is expected in 2025 and will serve as a technological shakedown before human occupation.
No launch date has been set for Haven Demo, but launching this year is more than aspirational, given that the company announced on September 26, “Haven Demo build and test are complete, and it is now undergoing final integration for launch.”
Vast’s roadmap includes Haven-2, a larger and more capable successor, anticipated by 2028. In June 2024, Vast signed a cooperation agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA), opening the door for European astronauts and payloads to fly on its platforms.
Starlab (Voyager/Nanoracks + Airbus)
A Starlab rendering of its planned orbital station. Credit: Starlab
Targeting a 2029 launch, Starlab is a collaboration between U.S.-based Voyager Space and Nanoracks, with European aerospace giant Airbus as a co-developer. The station has completed major design reviews and is moving into the full production phase. Its design supports four crew members and includes laboratory space for government and commercial users. Airbus’s involvement makes this one of the most international of the U.S.-led efforts.
Orbital Reef (Blue Origin + Sierra Space)
Artist’s conception of Orbital Reef Credit: Sierra Space
Orbital Reef, billed as a “business park in space,” is being developed with a mix of partners, including Blue Origin, Sierra Space, Boeing, and others. The plan includes large inflatable habitat modules (Sierra’s LIFE system) and facilities for research, tourism, and manufacturing. It’s an ambitious project, but it is still in its design stages.
No advanced design review or acceptance meetings have been announced, and no metal has been bent to create a first flight module for Orbital Reef. The project partners have a stated 2027 goal, but does not seem to be a priority for some of them at this point in time.
Europe: Infrastructure, Access, and Industry Roles
While Europe lacks a flagship commercial space station project of its own, ESA is actively engaging through industrial support and international partnerships.
Airbus in Starlab: The European aerospace leader plays a central role in the development of Starlab, ostensibly to ensure that European technology is integrated into the next generation of orbital stations.
ESA–Vast Agreement: ESA’s memorandum of understanding with Vast signals a shift toward broader collaboration with commercial operators outside of Europe, giving ESA member states potential crew and science access aboard Haven-class stations.
Cargo Return Services: ESA has also contracted Thales Alenia Space (Italy) and The Exploration Company (Germany) to develop LEO cargo return vehicles by 2028–2030. These efforts support future station resupply and science return — capabilities vital for any long-term orbital presence.
Exploratory Talks with Blue Origin: ESA is reportedly in talks to integrate European hardware or services into Orbital Reef, another sign of the agency’s pivot toward cooperative participation in commercial platforms rather than duplicating them.
Outlook: High Stakes, Compressed Timelines
With ISS operations expected to wind down by the end of the decade, time is tight. NASA and its commercial partners face a complex mix of engineering, regulatory, and financial hurdles. The recent postponement of NASA’s next CLD solicitation reflects industry-wide uncertainty and a need for clearer demand signals.
ISS On Orbit…For Now
Photo: NASA
Meanwhile, Europe’s more cautious strategy — focused on access, partnerships, and enabling infrastructure — may prove prudent if their own efforts with Starlab stutter. At the same time, it also risks leaving Europe dependent on foreign platforms unless greater independence is pursued.
That means money, and it is in short supply these days, as the ESA budget has flattened: €7.68 billion ($7.91 billion) in 2025, down about 1.4% from the €7.79 billion the agency had allocated for 2024.
Stay Tuned…
If early stations like Haven-1 and Axiom Station succeed, the LEO economy could expand quickly in the 2030s, with multiple platforms offering access to governments, scientists, private astronauts, and commercial industries alike.
There are surely some potholes in the road to space for all of the companies. Not only do they have to create a spacecraft that will reliably keep its occupants alive, but they will also need to establish supply chains (resupply missions) and operational groups to manage it all. It’s a daunting task for anyone.
So, as always, stay tuned, there is a lot more to come, but things are about to start getting interesting.
SpaceX feed showing an infrared camera capture of Axiom 4’s descent this morning Via: SpaceX
Early Tuesday morning, July 15 at 5:31 AM Eastern Time, SpaceX’s Dragon capsule “Grace” brought the crew of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) back to Earth with a smooth splashdown off the southern California coast. They had undocked from the International Space Station just over 22 hours earlier, at 6:15 a.m. CT on Monday, July 14. The landing marks the end of a successful 18-day journey in low Earth orbit.
Commander Peggy Whitson of the United States led the four-person team, which also included Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. Their flight marked a historic return to space for India, Poland, and Hungary—each country’s first astronaut mission in more than four decades—and the inaugural ISS expeditions for all three.
“Ax-4 illustrates the power of commercial partnerships in opening space to more nations,” said Tejpaul Bhatia, CEO of Axiom Space. “By giving Indian, Polish, and Hungarian astronauts hands-on access to the orbiting laboratory, we’re broadening global participation in human spaceflight and laying the groundwork for a dynamic low-Earth-orbit economy.”
The Axiom 4 crew. Photo: Axiom Space
During their stay aboard the station, the crew carried out over 60 experiments spanning life sciences, materials physics, Earth observation, and cutting-edge technology tests. Those investigations, drawn from 31 countries, underscore the mission’s international reach and its role in pushing the frontiers of microgravity research.
Beyond the lab work, the Ax-4 astronauts took part in more than 20 outreach events—engaging with students, government leaders, researchers, media outlets, and aspiring spacefarers—to share insights from their mission, spark curiosity about STEM, and demonstrate the value of global teamwork in space exploration.
Ax-4 is the fourth private astronaut flight Axiom Space has arranged to the ISS, making it the only company so far to have sent private crews into orbit. These ventures not only give governments, universities, companies, and private citizens direct access to space but also pave the way toward Axiom’s ultimate goal: building and operating Axiom Station, the first commercial space habitat.
Previous Axiom missions have carried crew members from the U.S., Spain, Israel, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Türkiye, and Sweden, in partnership with ESA. With Ax-4’s success, Axiom Space continues to demonstrate the value of international collaboration and the promise of a new era in commercial spaceflight.
Axiom 4 lifts off from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center
After several delays, Axiom 4 is on its way to the International Space Station. The corporate mission, commanded by NASA veteran Peggy Whitson, lifted off at 2:31 AM Eastern Time from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon.
In addition to Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla, an officer in the Indian Air Force and astronaut with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will serve as the pilot. Mission specialists include Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a project astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA) representing Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Notably, this mission marks the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary will visit the ISS, representing each nation’s first government-sponsored human spaceflight in over 40 years.
Axiom 4 lifts off at 2:31 AM ET on Wednesday, January 25, 2025 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
After several delays, Axiom 4 is on its way to the International Space Station. The corporate mission, commanded by NASA veteran Peggy Whitson, lifted off at 2:31 AM Eastern Time from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon.
In addition to Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla, an officer in the Indian Air Force and astronaut with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will serve as the pilot. Mission specialists include Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a project astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA) representing Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Notably, this mission marks the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary will visit the ISS, representing each nation’s first government-sponsored human spaceflight in over 40 years.
After a nominal ascent, Booster B1094 returned to land at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s LZ-1 about secen minutes and thirty nine seconds from liftoff. A few seconds later, Falcon 9’s second stage and Crew Dragon were reaching their initial orbit, which will be modified later as Axiom 4 begins chasing down ISS in earnest.
Docking is expected Thursday morning, around 7:00 AM ET.
After docking with Station, Axiom 4’s crew will begin a two-week stay aboard ISS, where they will conduct a number of experiments on behalf of their respective space agencies.
Axiom-4 Mission Objectives
Ax-4 will be a busy mission, as it is slated to conduct approximately 60 scientific experiments and activities involving participants from 31 nations, such as the United States, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates, and various European countries. This marks the highest number of research initiatives undertaken on an Axiom Space mission to the International Space Station (ISS) thus far, highlighting the mission’s global importance and collaborative spirit in advancing microgravity research in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
The mission places a particular emphasis on scientific endeavors led by the countries represented in the Ax-4 crew, including the United States, India, Poland (in collaboration with the European Space Agency), and Hungary. The research conducted will enhance global understanding in areas such as human health, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences, reflecting the space research capabilities of the crew’s home countries.
Axiom Space is also collaborating with research organizations and academic institutions to further investigate the effects of spaceflight on the human body and to explore how space-based research can lead to improvements in health and medical treatments on Earth. The mission underscores the significance of commercial and academic partnerships, as Axiom Space spearheads the development of a global research community and a sustainable economic ecosystem in LEO. The mission also sets the stage for Axiom Station, the first commercial space station, which will provide a permanent platform for research, manufacturing, and human spaceflight.
File photo of a Falcon 9 / Crew Dragon launching from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
The delayed launch of Axiom 4 to the International Space Station will have to wait a little bit longer. The company announced today that the “space agency needs additional time to continue evaluating International Space Station operations after recent repair work in the aft (back) most segment of the orbital laboratory’s Zvezda service module.”
The delay is labeled as “indefinite” and no new launch target date has been announced.
The crew remains in quarantine, and the Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon planned for the flight remain in healthy condition and ready for the flight.”
The root cause of the delay is a series of micro-leaks in the Zvezda module, first detected months ago but considered under control after previous repair efforts. However, on June 14, cosmonauts aboard the ISS noted a fresh pressure signature in the aft segment of Zvezda, indicating that some seals may have degraded or reopened under flight conditions. Although the module has held pressure more consistently since the latest inspections, NASA and its Russian partners determined that more data were needed to rule out any risk to incoming crew.
On a blog update published last week, NASA detailed the troubleshooting steps taken by cosmonauts: interior surfaces were inspected, suspect seals were re-torqued, and additional leak-rate measurements were conducted. “Following the most recent repair, pressure in the transfer tunnel has been stable,” NASA wrote, “but additional time is required for Roscosmos and NASA to evaluate whether further action is necessary.” This review window now overlaps with the Monday launch opportunity, effectively ruling it out until the investigation concludes.
There are also ISS logistics to consider: Ax-4’s launch window is tightly constrained by orbital mechanics and ISS traffic. The current opportunity closes on June 30 to accommodate other scheduled resupply and crewed flights. Pushing through before fully resolving the leak could risk mission safety and station integrity, particularly given the interconnected life-support systems aboard the ISS. Axiom Space President Michael Suffredini emphasized that while commercial missions must adhere to tight timelines, safety remains the non-negotiable priority.
Axiom 4, the privately operated crewed spaceflight, now has a confirmed launch date of June 22, 2025. The mission is slated to lift off at 3:42 AM ET, from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.
Originally scheduled for June 19, the flight window was pushed back as engineers addressed technical issues and concerns about the ISS leaks. The new timeline promises a mission duration ranging from 14 to 21 days to complete its planned research program.
“No one remembers launch delays, but no one ever forgets a real problem.”
–V.L. Pinson Sr., former ABMA and NASA veteran
The mission will utilize a Falcon 9 to carry the newly built Crew Dragon spacecraft C213 into low Earth orbit, marking the final Crew Dragon capsule to enter service in SpaceX’s original slate of capsules. The four-person crew—veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson commanding, Indian pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA’s Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Hungarian specialist Tibor Kapu—will conduct science and technology demonstrations aboard ISS during their flight.
Axiom Space first announced on April 3 that Ax-4 would launch no earlier than May, reflecting a cautious approach as technical reviews and ISS scheduling took shape.
By mid-April, the Ax-4 team was gearing up for a busy agenda aboard ISS with a target window of no earlier than late May. The packed schedule—includes biological experiments, materials science tests, and station maintenance tasks.
After some shifts to the right on the schedule, the mission stood ready to launch on June 10th, but weather in the ascent corridor forced mission managers to call of any launch attempt that day. The ascent corridor is the zone where Crew Dragon and its crew would land in the unlikely event of an abort. The zone extends offshore in the Atlantic Ocean from Kennedy Space all the way to Ireland, and weather inside it must be suitable — just in case.
The next day, the first launch attempt on June 11 was scrubbed after engineers detected a propellant leak in the rocket’s liquid oxygen system and called off the launch to remediate the issue.
Next, a pressure leak in the Zvezda service module on the ISS prompted NASA and Roscosmos to stabilize the module before approving further dockings, contributing to another postponement announced on June 12.
NASA, SpaceX and Axiom have now agreed on a launch attempt in the predawn hours of the first full day of summer: June 22nd. Falcon 9’s leaks have been resolved, the Space Station leak issue is now under control, and at this point, weather on the 22nd looks as though it will be acceptable for Axiom 4’s ascent into orbit.
The Indian Connection
For India’s space program, Ax-4 represents a milestone: it provides the first opportunity for an Indian astronaut to fly to ISS. Pilot and Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu “Shux” Shukla, part of ISRO’s cadre of astronauts, will carry out experiments developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation in fields ranging from microbial adaptation to muscle atrophy studies.
His flight will be the precursor to his upcoming flight aboard ISRO’s Gaganyaan-1, India’s first domestically built crewed orbital spacecraft. At 39, Shukla is a veteran test pilot, having flown everything from MiG-21s to Su-30s.
Gaganyaan capsule Photo: ISRO
One Of America’s Most Astronauts Commands
Tibor Kapu, courtesy Axiom Space
Axiom 4 will be commanded by Peggy Whitson—a former NASA chief astronaut and current Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space—Ax-4 brings seasoned leadership to this venture. Whitson holds multiple Station records and is tasked with overseeing the flights to and from ISS. She has spent 665 days in space so far.
Poland and Hungary Returning To Spaceflight After 40 Years
Joining Whitson and Shukla is Sławosz Uznański, a Polish engineer and the first representative of his country in space since 1978. Back then, it was Mirosław Hermaszewski aboard a Soviet Soyuz. This time, it’s Uznański flying under the banner of the European Space Agency as a mission specialist. A former CERN engineer and ESA reserve astronaut, Uznański’s path to space was defined more by science than by spectacle. His role on Ax-4 emphasizes research, including a number of biomedical and Earth-monitoring experiments designed by Polish institutions.
Sławosz Uznański, courtesy Axiom Space
Hungary, too, is returning to space after a four-decade absence. Tibor Kapu, an engineer selected under the Hungarian government’s HUNOR program, became only the second Hungarian to ever fly in space. He beat out nearly 250 applicants for the role. The first, Bertalan Farkas, flew aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1980.
Kapu’s mission is both technical and symbolic. “This is not just a mission for Hungary,” he said before launch. “It’s for all the small nations looking toward the stars and asking if they can be part of the next chapter.”
The Axiom 4 mission is apparently back on track after two unrelated leaks—one in orbit and one on the ground—were resolved, clearing the way for the launch of Axiom Space’s next private mission to the International Space Station.
SpaceX plans to launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a new Crew Dragon capsule with four private astronauts aboard for the Ax-4 mission. No official launch date or time has been set yet, but there has been some speculation about a Thursday pre-dawn liftoff at 4:53 AM ET. Given the lack of any official notifications of the launch attempt, it seems highly unlikely one will happen on that date.
The mission faced multiple delays last week. Poor weather conditions offshore in the ascent corridor scrubbed a planned Monday launch, and a liquid oxygen leak discovered in the rocket’s first-stage booster pushed back Tuesday’s attempt. SpaceX conducted a successful retest of the booster last Thursday, confirming the leak had been fixed.
The International-Space-Station-in-2021
Photo: NASA
Just as that issue was resolved, NASA put another hold on the launch due to a long-standing problem on the International Space Station: a years-old leak on the Russian segment. Engineers needed time to confirm recent repairs had sealed it for good. On Saturday, NASA reported that pressure in the affected area had stabilized—a sign that the small leaks may finally be closed.
While Russia’s space agency Roscosmos continues to monitor the situation, NASA has cleared SpaceX and Axiom Space to proceed towards a launch of Axiom 4, but again, no official announcement of a day or time has been made by NASA, SpaceX or Axiom Space.
Ax-3 On The Launch Pad. AX-4 will be almost identical Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
The fourth private mission to ISS is set to head to Station Wednesday morning at 8:22 AM ET, weather and technicals permitting. Weather offshore in the ascent corridor forced a scrub for Tuesday, due to unacceptable conditions on Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon’s path towards ISS.
The Mission
The mission—organized by Houston-based Axiom Space—represents a growing shift in space exploration: national pride and private enterprise, working hand in hand. It’s the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary will fly to the ISS, and the vehicle taking them there is no less historic. The Crew Dragon capsule, designated C213, is the final capsule SpaceX plans to build under its current production schedule. This is its first flight.
C213’s official name has not been released to the public, and tradition calls for the first crew to fly it to also name the spacecraft. Expect to hear that name prior to the launch tomorrow.
A SpaceX Crew Dragon on the launch pad earlier in 2024.
The Crew
Peggy Whitson, courtesy Axiom Space
Leading the crew is Peggy Whitson, a name already etched into American spaceflight history. A retired NASA astronaut and now Axiom’s Director of Human Spaceflight, Whitson has spent more time in orbit than any other American—675 days in total. She’s flown on both the Space Shuttle and Soyuz, and this marks her fifth trip to space. Despite all that experience, she said the diversity and ambition of this mission makes it feel new again.
“It’s an exciting time to be part of space exploration,” Whitson told reporters before launch. “This is about opening access, building partnerships, and pushing science forward.”
Shubhanshu Shukla, courtesy Axiom Space
Sitting beside Whitson in the cockpit is Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, making history as the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS. At 39, Shukla is a veteran test pilot, having flown everything from MiG-21s to Su-30s. He was part of India’s astronaut corps for the upcoming Gaganyaan program, and this mission is seen as a critical stepping stone for India’s human spaceflight ambitions.
For Shukla, the symbolism runs deep. “To represent India in this way is both humbling and thrilling,” he said. He’s carrying with him a suite of Indian microgravity experiments—including studies on tardigrade survival, plant growth, and stem cell behavior—that could lay the groundwork for India’s long-term research goals in orbit.
Sławosz Uznański, courtesy Axiom Space
Joining them is Sławosz Uznański, a Polish engineer and the first representative of his country in space since 1978. Back then, it was Mirosław Hermaszewski aboard a Soviet Soyuz. This time, it’s Uznański flying under the banner of the European Space Agency as a mission specialist. A former CERN engineer and ESA reserve astronaut, Uznański’s path to space was defined more by science than by spectacle. His role on Ax-4 emphasizes research, including a number of biomedical and Earth-monitoring experiments designed by Polish institutions.
Hungary, too, is returning to space after a four-decade absence. Tibor Kapu, an engineer selected under the Hungarian government’s HUNOR program, became only the second Hungarian to ever fly in space. He beat out nearly 250 applicants for the role. The first, Bertalan Farkas, flew aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1980.
Tibor Kapu, courtesy Axiom Space
Kapu’s mission is both technical and symbolic. “This is not just a mission for Hungary,” he said before launch. “It’s for all the small nations looking toward the stars and asking if they can be part of the next chapter.”
Together, the Ax-4 crew brings four national flags and a shared sense of purpose to orbit. Their flight to the ISS will last roughly 14 days and includes more than 60 research projects from 31 countries—an international science effort that spans biology, medicine, technology, and Earth science. The scope is ambitious: studies on glucose regulation that could impact diabetes treatment, advanced materials testing in zero gravity, and new methods for monitoring joint health in long-duration missions.
Trajectory
About 45 degrees from true north.
An easterly looking view of Axiom 4’s flight trajectory. The first stage activities are labeled. The second stage (and crew) will follow the arcing line over the horizon. Graphic: Charles Boyer using Google Earth Pro.
This is a Return to Landing Site mission, meaning Booster B1094 will be landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Landing Zone 1, the site of the old LC-13. A sonic boom will herald the arrival of the booster to the Space Coast.
Falcon 9’s booster flight profile for Axiom 4 Graphic: Charles Boyer using Google Earth Pro.
The Weather
The 45th Weather Squadron on Space Launch Delta 45 released their L-1 (one day prior to launch) forecast for Axiom 4: 95% go at the launch site, but a high risk in the ascent corridor.
This necessitated a scrub, with events now moved to NET Wednesday, June 11th. The weather on Wednesday is somewhat worse at the launch site: a 1-in-5 chance of a weather-related scrub at the launch site (80% GO) and only slightly better conditions on the spacecraft’s path towards orbit.
Why This Matters
If something goes wrong during launch (engine failure, system anomaly, etc.), the crew capsule—SpaceX’s Crew Dragon—has the ability to abort and separate from the rocket at any point in the ascent. After separation, it parachutes down into the Atlantic Ocean.
That means the entire flight path up the East Coast, from Florida to somewhere past Ireland, must have acceptable weather conditions for:
Rescue operations (search-and-rescue boats and helicopters need to reach the crew quickly)
Survivability (waves, wind, and visibility must not endanger the capsule or the astronauts)
Recovery asset safety (ships and aircraft can’t operate in dangerous storms)
Even if the launch pad weather is perfect, bad weather anywhere along the ascent corridor can delay a launch. NASA and SpaceX have multiple pre-designated splashdown zones, and each one must meet strict criteria for wind speeds, wave heights, lightning risk, and cloud cover during launch.
Privately Operated Missions: The Way of the Future
Axiom Space has carved out a unique model for missions like this. Unlike traditional government-led flights, the Ax-4 mission is privately operated and commercially funded, with participating countries contributing financially or technically in exchange for astronaut slots. This hybrid approach allows smaller spacefaring nations to engage in human spaceflight without launching their own rockets or building their own stations.
The capsule they’re riding in—Crew Dragon C213—is another milestone. It’s the fifth and final new Dragon that SpaceX plans to produce under its current human spaceflight program. From here on, the company will rely on reusing existing vehicles. That C213 is debuting with such a historic, multicultural mission underscores the symbolic weight of the moment.
Axiom Space released this rendering of Axiom Station
Axiom Space is also developing its own privately-owned commercially operated space station. Axiom Station is currently under construction. The first module, the Payload Power Thermal Module (PPTM), are scheduled to be launched to the International Space Station (ISS) no earlier than 2027, according to Axiom Space and Wikipedia. The Habitat One (Hab-1) module is expected to launch no earlier than 2028. The Axiom Station is planned to be a commercial space station, with Axiom Space aiming to start operating a free-flying platform as early as 2028.
Ax-4 Flight Plans
Once aboard ISS, the crew will be integrated into daily life on the station, conducting experiments while also taking time for public outreach and cultural exchange. Whitson noted that the crew has trained extensively not just in operations but in working across language and cultural lines—an increasingly relevant skill set in today’s globalized approach to space.
The crew’s return is scheduled for late June after a roughly two-week stay aboard the orbiting outpost, though the exact splashdown date will depend on weather and recovery conditions in the Pacific. SpaceX recently moved crew landing operations to the Pacific offshore from southern California due to finicky conditions here in Florida.
You must be logged in to post a comment.