Axiom-4 to Launch With India, Poland, Hungary Crew

The Axiom-4 commercial mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to launch on June 19, 2025, and will include astronauts from India, the US, Poland, and Hungary. Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot, with former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson commanding the mission. The launch follows multiple delays caused by a Falcon 9 liquid oxygen leak and a pressure issue in the ISS’s Russian segment, both now resolved through cooperation involving ISRO, Axiom Space, SpaceX, NASA, and Roscosmos. This 14-day mission marks India’s first commercial human spaceflight and the return to space for India, Poland, and Hungary after decades. The mission highlights renewed international collaboration in human spaceflight. All participating agencies have emphasized crew safety and rigorous pre-launch preparations.