Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is a private crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) operated by Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX and NASA, marking a significant milestone in the commercialization of low-Earth orbit[2]. The mission launched on June 25, 2025, aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon 'Grace' spacecraft—the fifth and final Dragon capsule—and completed an 18-day stay on the ISS before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on July 15, 2025[1][2]. Ax-4 was notable for both its international crew and its extensive scientific agenda, reflecting the growing global interest in space-based research. The Ax-4 crew was commanded by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and current Axiom Space Director of Human Spaceflight, who extended her record to 695 cumulative days in space over five missions, the most by any American astronaut[1][5]. The team included Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India, and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary[4][5]. This mission represented the return of government-sponsored human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary after more than 40 years, and was the first time all three nations sent astronauts to the ISS[3]. For India, this was only the second national astronaut mission since 1984, underscoring the historic nature of the flight[3]. Ax-4 set a new benchmark for private astronaut missions by conducting the most research ever undertaken on an Axiom Space mission, with over 60 scientific activities representing 31 countries[1][4]. The research portfolio spanned technology demonstrations, life sciences, human research, material science, physical and Earth sciences, and STEAM outreach[1][4]. The mission logged 288 orbits and traveled approximately 7.6 million miles during its 18-day ISS stay, contributing 432 hours of research time[1]. This level of scientific productivity signals the increasing capability of commercial missions to support high-impact, international research in low-Earth orbit[1][4]. The mission’s complexity, international collaboration, and record-breaking research output highlight Axiom Space’s role in redefining access to space and elevating national space programs worldwide[3][7]. Ax-4’s success demonstrates the viability of commercial platforms for advancing global scientific discovery and paves the way for future private and international missions to the ISS and beyond[1][3].
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station and is set to make a splashdown off the coast of San Diego, marking the first crewed spacecraft splashdown in California since 1969.