India, Poland, Hungary Return to Space with Historic Axiom-4 Mission
In a landmark moment for space exploration, India, Poland, and Hungary are making a powerful comeback to crewed spaceflight after decades-long hiatuses. The trio of nations will send astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a commercial flight organized by Axiom Space in partnership with NASA and SpaceX. The launch is scheduled for 12:01 PM IST on Wednesday, June 25, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The spacecraft, a new SpaceX Crew Dragon riding atop a Falcon 9 rocket, is expected to dock with the ISS on Thursday around 1100 GMT, where the astronauts will spend up to 14 days conducting scientific experiments and public outreach.
The crew aboard the Ax-4 mission comprises pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of India, mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, and commander Dr. Peggy Whitson of the United States. Dr. Whitson, a veteran astronaut and Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space, holds the record for the most cumulative days spent in space by an American—675 in total. Her experience will be crucial in guiding the mission's objectives and mentoring the new astronauts onboard.
This mission is particularly significant for India, as Shubhanshu Shukla will become the first Indian astronaut to travel to space since Rakesh Sharma in 1984. Sharma’s voyage was part of a Soviet-led initiative during the Cold War era. Now, four decades later, Shukla steps into history as a symbol of India’s growing aspirations in space technology and exploration. “I carry with me not just instruments and equipment, but the hopes and dreams of a billion hearts,” he said ahead of the launch.
For the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), this flight serves as a crucial step toward its own crewed mission under the Gaganyaan program, planned for launch in 2027. The Gaganyaan mission will be India’s first domestically operated human spaceflight, and the Ax-4 mission provides valuable experience and international collaboration as a precursor.
Similarly, Poland and Hungary are rekindling their astronautic ambitions after lengthy gaps. Neither country has sent a human to space since the Soviet era, and this mission serves as both a symbolic and strategic return. While Hungary disclosed it is spending approximately $100 million for its astronaut’s seat, India and Poland have not revealed their respective investments. Nevertheless, the decision to send national representatives to the ISS via Axiom’s commercial services underscores the value these countries place on space diplomacy and technological prestige.
During their time on the ISS, the Ax-4 crew will carry out approximately 60 scientific experiments. These include cutting-edge studies on microalgae, plant germination in space, and the behavior of tardigrades—tiny organisms known for their resilience in extreme environments. The outcomes of these experiments will contribute to our understanding of life sciences in microgravity and offer insights into future space missions, including long-duration human travel to the Moon and Mars.
In addition to scientific research, Shubhanshu Shukla is expected to engage in a space-to-Earth communication event with a high-profile Indian dignitary, widely speculated to be Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This interaction is seen as a strategic soft-power move by India, aimed at inspiring national pride and global visibility.
However, the mission has not been without controversy. It follows an intense public dispute between U.S. President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Trump threatened to withdraw SpaceX’s federal contracts, which are worth billions, prompting Musk to hint at discontinuing the Crew Dragon program. Though Musk later walked back his comments and distanced himself from the political row, the incident highlighted the delicate balance between private sector innovation and government reliance in space missions.
Despite these tensions, the Ax-4 mission remains a testament to international cooperation and commercial viability in space exploration. It also marks the debut of the fifth and final Crew Dragon capsule, which will receive its official name once in orbit, joining its siblings Endeavour, Resilience, Endurance, and Freedom. SpaceX has indicated that these vehicles will gradually be retired in the 2030s to make way for the much larger Starship rocket, currently under development.
With this mission, Axiom Space further cements its role as a major player in the burgeoning space tourism and commercial research sector. By facilitating access for nations like India, Poland, and Hungary, it opens new pathways for countries to participate in human spaceflight without the prohibitive costs of building their own vehicles.
As the Ax-4 mission prepares to make history, it reaffirms that space is no longer the exclusive domain of superpowers. With determination, investment, and collaboration, even nations that once relied on Soviet hardware can now chart their own course among the stars.