KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 2:31 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission, organized by Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX and NASA, will carry four astronauts for a two-week stay aboard the orbiting laboratory. The booster core, B1094, with attempt a return to launch site landing (RTLS) at CCSFS LZ-1 and with produce a sonic boom. Mostly clear skies will allow for great views of the booster boost-back burn that often produces beautiful nebula like clouds and patterns.
The Ax-4 crew consists of Commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight, who has logged 675 days in space across her career. She is joined by Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force pilot and astronaut with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), marking India’s first government-sponsored human spaceflight in over 40 years. Mission Specialists include Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a Polish project astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA), and Tibor Kapu, a Hungarian mechanical engineer representing the Hungarian Space Office’s HUNOR program. This mission is the first time astronauts from Poland and Hungary will visit the ISS, and it marks their countries’ return to human spaceflight since 1978 and 1980, respectively.
The Ax-4 mission will launch aboard a new SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, tail number C213, the fifth and final Crew Dragon built by SpaceX. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster, B1094, is on its second flight, having previously launched the Starlink 12-10 mission in April 2025. After stage separation, the booster will attempt to land at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, potentially producing a sonic boom audible along Florida’s Space Coast. The crew will conduct approximately 60 scientific experiments during their 14-day mission, focusing on biology, material sciences, and technology demonstrations. Experiments include studies on human health, such as diabetes research, and microgravity effects on food crop seeds and cyanobacteria.
Liftoff is targeted for 2:31 a.m. EDT (0631 UTC) on June 25, 2025. The Crew Dragon is expected to dock with the ISS’s Harmony module at approximately 7:00 a.m. EDT (1100 UTC) on Thursday, June 26. NASA will provide live coverage starting at 12:30 a.m. EDT on NASA+, with SpaceX and Axiom Space offering webcasts beginning two hours prior to launch. The mission duration is approximately two weeks, with the return date dependent on weather conditions for splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
The launch will occur at Launch Complex 39A, a historic pad at Kennedy Space Center that has supported 208 rocket launches, including Apollo and Space Shuttle missions. The ISS, orbiting at an altitude of about 250 miles, will serve as the crew’s destination. The Falcon 9’s booster landing is planned at Cape Canaveral’s Landing Zone 1, located at the former Launch Complex 13.
The Ax-4 mission aims to advance microgravity research and foster international collaboration. “With a culturally diverse crew, we are not only advancing scientific knowledge but also fostering international collaboration,” Whitson said during a June 3 press briefing. The mission supports Axiom Space’s goal of developing a commercial space station to succeed the ISS, expected to retire around 2030. For India, Poland, and Hungary, the mission represents a milestone in their space programs, showcasing their contributions to global space exploration. “This mission underscores how Axiom Space is redefining the pathway to low-Earth orbit and elevating national space programs globally,” an Axiom Space statement noted.
The launch was originally scheduled for May 29, 2025, but faced multiple postponements. A liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket, detected after a static fire test on June 8, delayed the launch from June 11. Repairs were completed by June 12, as confirmed by SpaceX’s vice president of Build and Flight Reliability, William Gerstenmaier, who stated, “We’ve addressed the leak to ensure the safety and integrity of the mission hardware.” Additionally, a pressure anomaly in the ISS’s Zvezda module, detected after Russian cosmonaut repairs, prompted further delays until NASA confirmed stable pressure readings on June 14. NASA announced the June 25 launch date on June 23, citing sufficient resolution of both issues.
The Ax-4 mission includes experiments from 31 countries, the most extensive research portfolio of any Axiom mission to date. Poland’s Ignis mission, led by Uznański-Wiśniewski, will study astronaut mental health and musculoskeletal impacts in microgravity. Hungary’s HUNOR program, represented by Kapu, includes student-designed experiments on pendulum properties in space. India’s contributions, via Shukla, involve agricultural research. The mission also features ISS Ham Radio sessions to engage students worldwide in space science.
Viewing and Coverage: Spectators along Florida’s Space Coast can view the launch from Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex or nearby public areas, with clear skies forecast at 78°F, 84% cloud cover, and 9 mph winds. Live streams will be available on SpaceX’s website, Axiom Space’s social media, and NASA+. The mission’s progress can be followed via NASA’s ISS blog and social media accounts, including @space_station and @ISS_Research.
The Ax-4 mission continues to advance the role of commercial spaceflight and international partnerships in advancing human presence in low-Earth orbit, setting the stage for future endeavors like Axiom Station.
