SpaceX readies private launch of four astronauts to International Space Station
Share this @internewscast.com

Four crew members are set to launch Wednesday on a privately funded mission to the International Space Station.

The journey, arranged by the Houston-based firm Axiom Space, is set to commence at 8 a.m. ET from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The team of four will travel to orbit inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

NASA will broadcast live coverage of the launch beginning at 7:05 a.m. ET on NASA+.

Initially planned for Tuesday, the launch faced a one-day postponement due to strong winds along the Florida coast. This mission, identified as Ax-4, is projected to spend approximately two weeks at the International Space Station.

Leading the mission is former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who holds a record 675 days in space, the most by any American astronaut. She will be joined by pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from the Indian Space Research Organization; mission specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a Polish scientist with the European Space Agency; and mission specialist Tibor Kapu, a mechanical engineer hailing from Hungary.

From left, Ax-4 crew members Tibor Kapu of Hungary, Indian Space Research Organization astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, and European Space Agency astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland.
From left, Ax-4 crew members Tibor Kapu of Hungary, Indian Space Research Organization astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, and European Space Agency astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland.SpaceX

Shukla, Uznański-Wiśniewski and Kapu will make history by becoming the first people from their countries to live and work on the International Space Station.

During their two-week stay at the orbiting lab, the Ax-4 crew members will conduct a host of scientific experiments, according to NASA, including studies of muscle regeneration, how sprouts and edible microalgae grow in microgravity and how tiny aquatic organisms survive at the ISS.

If the launch goes according to plan, the four astronauts will dock at the space station on Thursday at around 12:30 p.m. ET.

The upcoming flight will be Axiom Space’s fourth crewed mission to the International Space Station. The company’s first private expedition to the ISS was in 2022 with an all-civilian crew.

The price tag for the Ax-4 mission has not been publicly disclosed, but space tourists reportedly paid around $55 million per seat on previous Axiom Space expeditions.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

NIH Reductions Highlight an Overlooked Challenge for Patients with Experimental Brain Implants

Carol Seeger eventually found relief from her severe depression through an innovative…

Tom Lehrer, Renowned Song Satirist and Mathematician, Passes Away at 97

LOS ANGELES – Tom Lehrer, a well-known and intellectual song satirist who…

Roy Cooper, Former Governor, Joins North Carolina Senate Race

Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is entering the state’s Senate race,…

Trade Agreement Between the US and EU Prevents Further Tensions but Increases Expenses for Businesses and Consumers

FRANKFURT – President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der…

‘Fantastic Four: The Beginning’ Hits Marvel’s First $100 Million Box Office Launch of 2025

LOS ANGELES – Marvel’s iconic team has struck box office success. “The…

Invasive Moth Reaches New State: Other Locations Under Threat

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has announced the…

Struggling with grad school debt? Tips to manage it effectively

(NerdWallet) – Attending graduate school can enhance your career opportunities and increase…

Michigan Walmart Knife Incident Leads Authorities to Pursue Terrorism and Assault Charges Against Suspect

A man was arrested for allegedly entering a Walmart in Michigan and…

Consuming eggs weekly could reduce Alzheimer’s risk by up to 50%, according to research.

(NewsNation) — A new study suggests diets including eggs, especially the yolk,…

Discover California’s Ancient Tree: Older Than the Egyptian Pyramids

BIG PINE, Calif. (KSWB/KUSI) Hidden high in the White Mountains of eastern…

Man Accepts Plea Deal in 2019 KPT Woman’s Murder Case

A Sullivan County man facing charges for the 2019 murder of a…

Passengers Evacuate Plane via Emergency Slide Due to Smoking Jet, Suspected Landing Gear Issue at Denver Airport

Passengers evacuated a smoking aircraft at Denver International Airport using an emergency…