Key Takeaways
- SpaceX is launching the Ax-4 mission to the ISS on June 10, featuring a crew of four astronauts.
- The mission is led by Peggy Whitson, marking significant firsts for crew members from India, Poland, and Hungary.
- The astronauts will perform 60 scientific experiments over two weeks before returning via splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
Launch Details
SpaceX is set to launch the Ax-4 mission, carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) on June 10 at 8:22 a.m. EDT (1222 GMT). The launch will take place from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with a live webcast available via Space.com.
Mission Overview
Ax-4 represents Axiom Space’s fourth crewed mission to the ISS and will be powered by a new SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Leading the mission is Peggy Whitson, a seasoned former NASA astronaut and current director of human spaceflight for Axiom. Whitson holds the record for the most time spent in space by an American, totaling 675 days.
The crew also includes pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India, mission specialist Sławosz Uznański from Poland representing the European Space Agency, and Hungarian mission specialist Tibor Kapu. Each of these crew members will be the first from their countries to live aboard the ISS.
Mission Activities
If the launch occurs as scheduled, the Ax-4 spacecraft will arrive at the ISS on June 11 around 12:30 p.m. EDT (1630 GMT). The astronauts will spend approximately two weeks conducting 60 scientific experiments, the most extensive research effort executed in any Axiom Space mission thus far.
Return Plans
The mission will culminate in a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. While a specific return date has yet to be determined, it will be influenced by prevailing weather conditions in the designated splashdown area.
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