Axiom Mission 4 (or Ax-4) is a private spaceflight to the International Space Station. The flight will be launched no earlier than Spring 2025 and will last 14 days. It will be operated by Axiom Space and use a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.[1][2][3]

Axiom Mission 4
Artists' impression of a Crew Dragon approaching the forward port of Harmony on the ISS.
NamesAx-4
Mission typePrivate spaceflight to the ISS
Operator
Mission duration14–21 days (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeCrew Dragon
ManufacturerSpaceX
Crew
Crew size4
Members
Start of mission
Launch dateSpring 2025 (planned)
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5
Launch siteKennedy LC-39A
ContractorSpaceX
Docking with ISS
Docking portHarmony forward or zenith

The flight will take off from Kennedy Space Center LC-39A in Florida on a Falcon 9 rocket.

The flight is organized in collaboration with NASA and will be the fourth flight of Axiom Space after Axiom Mission 1, Axiom Mission 2, and Axiom Mission 3.[4]

Crew

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The flight crew will include veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu.[5]

Prime crew
Position[6] Astronaut
Commander   Peggy Whitson, Axiom Space
Fifth spaceflight
Pilot   Shubhanshu Shukla, ISRO
First spaceflight
Mission Specialist 1   Sławosz Uznański, ESA/POLSA
First spaceflight
Mission Specialist 2   Tibor Kapu, Hungary
First spaceflight
Backup crew
Position Astronaut
Commander   /   Michael López-Alegría, Axiom Space
Pilot   Prasanth Nair, ISRO
Mission Specialist 2   Gyula Cserényi, Hungary

References

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  1. ^ @NASASpaceOps (9 August 2024). "Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), the fourth private astronaut mission to the @Space_Station, now is targeted to launch no earlier than Spring 2025 from @NASAKennedy in Florida" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "NASA Selects Axiom Space for Fourth Private Astronaut Mission to International Space Station". Axiom Space. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  3. ^ Josh Dinner (4 August 2023). "NASA and Axiom Space sign-on for 4th private astronaut mission to space station". Space.com. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  4. ^ "NASA Selects Axiom Space for Another Private Space Mission in 2024 - NASA". Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  5. ^ Foust, Jeff (5 August 2024). "Hungary and Poland to join India on Ax-4". SpaceNews. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Axiom Mission 4 to ISS will include India, Poland, Hungary". Axiom Space (Press release). 5 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.