SpaceX F9/Crew Dragon : Axiom AX-4 : KSC LC-39A : 25 June 2025 (06:31 UTC)

[ddspaceman]

Spaceflight Now
@SpaceflightNow
Happening now, @Axiom_Space, @NASA, @SpaceX and international partners are holding a media teleconference to give a mission overview of the Ax-4 mission.

Follow this thread for notable updates. 🧵1/n

2/ Here are the speakers today:

3/ Flynt notes that there will be about 60 scientific studies and activities conducted during the roughly two-week mission. These represent 31 countries around the world, including Brazil, Nigeria and the UAE.

4/ Weigel says the ISS Program will hold its flight readiness review tomorrow (Wednesday, May 21).

She says crew onboard the space station are currently packing up the Cargo Dragon docked to the ISS, which will depart on Thursday, May 22, at 12 pm ET.

5/ Walker confirms that the Ax-4 mission will fly the fifth and final Crew Dragon, C213, which will be named by the crew at a later date.

She says they "are currently completing Dragon's final integration campaign and expect to transport Dragon to our hangar at pad 39A next week to be mated with the rocket for launch."

6/ Sudeesh Balan, Project Director, @isro, says the flight Shubhanshu Shukla has generated a lot of interest in India.

The country has a goal of establishing its own space station in 2035, called the Bharat Antariksh Station.

7/ Bukała says there will be 13 Polish experiments conducted on this mission, which are being done in close collaboration with @esa. Those range from technology demonstrations, psychology experiments, biotechnology and more.

8/ Ferencz says there will be 25 Hungarian experiments conducted as part of this mission.

"This is more than a space mission for us. It is a strategic national effort, an expression of Hungary's commitment to sovereignty in critical technological fields and to securing a place in the rapidly evolving space economy."

9/ Regarding the new Dragon's readiness, Walker says during pre-flight checkouts, there was a wire harness that didn't pass its high-potential test, which is designed to assess the verify the insulation strength of it. That had to be replaced with a new harness and retested.

Additionally, Walker says the parachutes they planned to install didn't pass inspection. She says before they were installed, SpaceX detected moisture in the bag that they're packed in, so that added a few days to address that.

Walker notes that SpaceX expects to launch six Dragon missions this year, with three already underway (Crew-10, Fram2 and CRS-32). Three others include Ax-4, Crew-11 and CRS-33.

SpaceX photo below is Dragon C213 back in December at its facilities in Hawthorne, CA. Originally, it was going to launch the Crew-10 mission, but that was shifted to allow more time to complete the spacecraft.

10/ Weigel says she hopes that private astronaut missions, like Ax-4, can help maximize the amount of science being done on the ISS as NASA may need to reduce the number of crew members it sends to the space station due to budget restrictions.

She notes that the participating countries come with a different suite of science as compared to the long-duration missions conducted by NASA and its international partners.

11/ Regarding the mission duration, Weigel says a launch in the June timeframe would allow for the 14-day mission. However, if the mission would slip out a month or later, "we'd really have to go look at that to understand what it means to downstream missions."

12/12 Ax-4 continues to target a launch to the International Space Station at 9:11 am ET (1311 UTC) on June 8 from pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

This concludes the briefing.

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[StraumliBlight]

[GewoonLukas_]

At 12:24 SpaceX' Sarah Walker says the first stage supporting this mission will be making its second flight and previously supported a Starlink mission a few weeks ago. This is B1094.

[ddspaceman]

Axiom Space
@Axiom_Space
The #Ax4 crew is on their way to quarantine. Before they go, Axiom Space employees came together to celebrate. Crew Send-off is a tradition that pays tribute to the dedication and tireless efforts of staff prior to the crew embarking on their mission. From #TeamAxiom, Godspeed #Ax4!

https://twitter.com/Axiom_Space/status/1926611640205623509

[ddspaceman]

Axiom Space
@Axiom_Space
The first day of quarantine is complete! The #Ax4 team has landed in Florida. They are now entering a two-week quarantine phase to stay healthy as they gear up for their launch to the @Space_Station.

https://twitter.com/Axiom_Space/status/1926775567405195613

[ddspaceman]

Peggy Whitson
@AstroPeggy
Historically, people with insulin-dependent diabetes have been disqualified from spaceflight over concerns of managing the condition in microgravity. In an effort to broaden spaceflight accessibility to a larger population, #Ax4 will be conducting an experiment called 'Suite Ride' that will explore safe methods for insulin-dependent astronauts to regulate their needs and open access to spaceflight!

https://twitter.com/AstroPeggy/status/1927356890591178985

[StraumliBlight]

https://twitter.com/Axiom_Space/status/1928120542017572987

Axiom Space will hold a virtual press conference on Tuesday, June 3 at 11:00 a.m. ET with the #Ax4 crew, who are currently in quarantine in preparation for their upcoming mission. Media must register by noon on June 2. https://axiomspace.com/mission-blog/ax4-crew-prelaunch

Pre-launch press conference with Axiom 4 Crew [May 28]

In preparation for the upcoming launch of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) with ESA Polish Project Astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, Axiom Space will host a virtual press conference with the members of the crew on Tuesday, 3 June, at 17:00 CEST (13:00 UTC).

The Ax-4 crew members are Commander Peggy Whitson from the US, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India, Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu from Hungary. They will share insights into their final preparations and mission goals, the scientific experiments that will be performed during their time onboard the International Space Station and the educational programme that will be conducted.

The press conference will be held virtually from the crew’s quarantine location in Florida, as they prepare to launch no earlier than Sunday 8 June at 09:11 ET/15:11 CEST.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Ax-4 crew aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew will dock with the space station on Monday, 9 June, at approximately 11:45 ET / 17:45 CEST.

Ax-4 Crew Press Conference
Tuesday, 3 June, at 11:00 ET / 17:00 CEST

Participants include:
 • Peggy Whitson, Ax-4 Commander, US
 • Shubhanshu Shukla, Ax-4 Pilot, India
 • Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, Ax-4 Mission Specialist, ESA/Poland
 • Tibor Kapu, Ax-4 Mission Specialist, Hungary

[SMS]

The launch of Axiom-4 is postpone until June 9!

No more information is available so far.

[SMS]

According to the Launch Schedule at Spaceflight Now:

https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

June 9  Falcon 9 • Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) Launch time: Approx. 8:45 a.m. EDT (1245 UTC).

[StraumliBlight]

According to the Launch Schedule at Spaceflight Now:

June 9  Falcon 9 • Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) Launch time: Approx. 8:45 a.m. EDT (1245 UTC).

Launch Photography also updated. [May 31]

A Falcon 9 will launch the Axiom-4 spaceflight participant mission to the International Space Station from pad 39A on June 9 at 8:46 a.m. EDT (close tickets on sale). The first stage will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch.

[SMS]

Axiom Space @Axiom_Space

The #Ax4 mission will carry the first Axiom Space microgravity-tested cancer drug FDA approved for clinical trials. Learn more about our partnership with Aspera Biomedicines and @ucsdstemcell
 as we make strides in groundbreaking research #ForEarth: https://www.axiomspace.com/release/cancer-research-rebecsinib

https://twitter.com/Axiom_Space/status/1929561177786400846

[StraumliBlight]

Crew Preps for Fourth Axiom Private Mission, Keeps up Human Research [Jun 2]

The Expedition 73 crew members are turning their attention to the upcoming fourth private mission from Axiom Space. While the International Space Station crewmates prepare for the Ax-4 quartet’s arrival aboard a SpaceX Dragon they also continued studying how their bodies are adapting to weightlessness in the midst of ongoing lab maintenance duties.

Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) is preparing for its launch to the orbital outpost this month carrying experienced astronaut Peggy Whitson as commander and three first-time space flyers including Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uzanański-Wiśniewksi from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary to the orbital outpost. NASA Flight Engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers spent a portion of their shift on Monday reviewing procedures they will use from inside the space station when the Ax-4 crew aboard the Dragon approaches the space station to begin a two-week space research mission.

[catdlr]

Here is a consolidated post of available video links for this launch:

SpaceX direct live broadcast on Twitter:  ** LINK NOT AVAILABLE YET ***

SpaceX Re-broadcast alternatives on YouTube: 
Space Affairs:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=8xCx2HzmEjw

Replay supplied by The Space Devs (15 min after the broadcast end):  https://youtube.com/@thespacedevs/videos

Summary Video provided by SciNews (15 min after the broadcast ends):  https://youtube.com/@SciNewsRo/videos

NSF Live Coverage:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=T3sue4w2Ukw

Post Launch Extras:

CelesTrak has ephemeris-based SupGP data: https://x.com/TSKelso
Max-Q Productions by Pete Carstens: https://www.youtube.com/@maxqproductions1

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Air-space closure zones for launch:

[StraumliBlight]

https://www.cadenaois.org/vpublic_anspdetail.jsp?view=15#

Primary Launch Day 09 Jun 1235Z-1325Z
Backup Launch Day (1) 10 Jun 1215Z-1305Z
Backup Launch Day (2) 11 Jun 1150Z-1240Z
Backup Launch Day (3) 12 Jun 1130Z-1220Z
Backup Launch Day (4) 13 Jun 1100Z-1150Z
Backup Launch Day (5) 14 Jun 1040Z-1130Z
Backup Launch Day (6) 15 Jun 1015Z-1105Z

[ddspaceman]

Human Spaceflight
@esaspaceflight
📣 Everything you need to know about @esa's Ignis mission to the International @Space_Station in one place.
 
👨‍🚀 While @astro_slawosz and the #Ax4 crew are in quarantine before launch, explore the ambitious technology & scientific programme heading to space.

🚀 #Ignis launch kit is now live:
https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/HRE/Ignis_digital_LaunchKit.pdf


@esa @POLSA_GOV_PL @MRiTGOVPL @Axiom_Space

https://twitter.com/esaspaceflight/status/1929840519309340926

[JSz]

Another delay: the launch on 10 June.

https://twitter.com/Axiom_Space/status/1929921776231809396

The #Ax4 crew is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on June 10 at 8:22 AM EDT from Launch Complex 39A at @NASAKennedy. Tune in for the launch broadcast starting at 6:15 AM EDT.

[zubenelgenubi]

We should learn the name of the new Crew Dragon spacecraft, among other things.

Pre-launch press conference with Axiom 4 Crew [May 28]

In preparation for the upcoming launch of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) with ESA Polish Project Astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, Axiom Space will host a virtual press conference with the members of the crew on Tuesday, 3 June, at 17:00 CEST (13:00 UTC).
<snip>
The press conference will be held virtually from the crew’s quarantine location in Florida, as they prepare to launch no earlier than Sunday 8 June at 09:11 ET/15:11 CEST.
<snip>
Ax-4 Crew Press Conference
Tuesday, 3 June, at 11:00 ET / 17:00 CEST
Participants include:
 • Peggy Whitson, Ax-4 Commander, US
 • Shubhanshu Shukla, Ax-4 Pilot, India
 • Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, Ax-4 Mission Specialist, ESA/Poland
 • Tibor Kapu, Ax-4 Mission Specialist, Hungary

[zubenelgenubi]

https://twitter.com/dpoddolphinpro/status/1929922424851832947

Ax-4: @Axiom_Space reveals the Zero-G indicator is “Joy”, a plush Swan. The Swan holds cultural significance in India, Poland, and Hungary, signifying diversity & unity through spaceflight.

We should learn the name of the new Crew Dragon spacecraft, among other things.

https://twitter.com/dpoddolphinpro/status/1929930970070683713

Ax-4 Pre-launch Preview: Commander @AstroPeggy confirmed that the Ax-4 crew will name Dragon C213. The name will be revealed on-orbit. However, she did hint that the name of the vehicle is related to the Zero Gravity indicator... 👀

@Axiom_Space revealed the Zero-G indicator is “Joy”, a plush Swan. The Swan holds cultural significance in India, Poland, and Hungary, signifying diversity & unity through spaceflight.

Axiom Mission-4 is scheduled for NET June 10th, at 12:22 UTC. The crew is composed of Peggy Whitson 🇺🇸, Shubhanshu Shukla 🇮🇳, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski 🇵🇱, & Tibor Kapu 🇭🇺.

Keep up to date on
@NextSpaceflight →
http://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6791

And make sure to tune into
@NASASpaceflight's live launch coverage →

[StraumliBlight]

https://x.com/dpoddolphinpro/status/1929930970070683713

The name will be revealed on-orbit. However, she did hint that the name of the vehicle is related to the Zero Gravity indicator... 👀

@Axiom_Space revealed the Zero-G indicator is “Joy”, a plush Swan. The Swan holds cultural significance in India, Poland, and Hungary, signifying diversity & unity through spaceflight.

Chat GPT suggested the following names that are related to 'Joy' and fit the existing names:

 • Jubilance
 • Radiance
 • Serenity
 • Triumph
 • Euphoria

Collect Space: 'Joy,' a plush baby swan, to launch with Ax-4 crew as zero-g indicator