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The mission will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida
After multiple delays, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others are all set to travel to the International Space Station on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) with SpaceX announcing that the weather was 90% favourable for lift-off.
“All systems are looking good for Wednesday’s (June 25, 2025) launch of @Axiom_Space’s Ax-4 mission to the @Space_Station and weather is 90% favorable for liftoff,” SpaceX, which is providing transport for the space mission, said in a post on X.
NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are now targeting 12.01 p.m. (IST), Wednesday (June 25, 2025), for launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4, NASA said.
The mission will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The crew will travel to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket.
The targeted docking time is approximately 4.30 p.m. IST on Thursday (June 26, 2025) NASA said in a statement.
Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot.
The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) astronaut Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
The Axiom-4 mission has run into multiple delays, first on account of inclement weather and then due to leaks detected on SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket and later on the Russian module of the International Space Station.
The launch opportunity comes after NASA and Roscosmos officials discussed the status of the recent repair work in the transfer tunnel at the aft (back) most segment of the orbital laboratory’s Zvezda service module, NASA said.
“NASA and Roscosmos have a long history of cooperation and collaboration on the International Space Station. This professional working relationship has allowed the agencies to arrive at a shared technical approach and now Axiom Mission 4 launch and docking will proceed,” said acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro.
As part of a collaboration between NASA and ISRO, Axiom Mission 4 delivers on a commitment highlighted by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first ISRO astronaut to the station, the NASA statement said.
The space agencies are participating in five joint science investigations and two in-orbit STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) demonstrations.
Once docked, the private astronauts plan to spend about two weeks aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission comprising science, outreach, and commercial activities.
SpaceX’s much-anticipated Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission has received a significant boost with the latest weather forecast indicating a 90% favorable launch window. This promising outlook enhances the likelihood of a successful liftoff for the private crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS), marking another milestone in the growing collaboration between private aerospace companies and government space agencies.
Set to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Ax-4 mission is the fourth in a series of commercial crewed flights organized by Axiom Space and facilitated by SpaceX. The high probability of favorable weather—particularly critical in the launch region known for its unpredictable climate—has heightened anticipation and optimism across the global space community.
Axiom-4 is part of an ambitious plan by Axiom Space to pioneer commercial space missions while paving the way for the development of the world’s first private space station. This mission will send four astronauts aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket to the ISS for an intensive, multi-day science and outreach mission.
The crew for Ax-4 includes a mix of seasoned professionals and private astronauts, with backgrounds ranging from former military aviators to research scientists and entrepreneurs. Their training, managed jointly by Axiom and SpaceX, has emphasized space safety, mission operations, and scientific experimentation. The astronauts will conduct various experiments while aboard the ISS, contributing to fields such as medicine, materials science, and Earth observation.
A 90% favorable weather forecast is considered highly rare and ideal in the aerospace world, where even minor meteorological disturbances—such as high winds, cumulus cloud cover, or lightning risk—can delay or scrub a launch.
According to the latest update from the U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron, the current atmospheric conditions around Kennedy Space Center are ideal. The region is experiencing a high-pressure system that is expected to maintain clear skies, low wind speeds, and minimal precipitation. These elements reduce risks such as lightning strikes during launch or upper-level wind shear that could interfere with rocket trajectory.
Backup launch windows are always prepared for, but a 90% go-status implies that the mission is highly likely to proceed on the planned date without delay, barring any unexpected technical issues.
Beyond the weather, the technical readiness of the Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft is also crucial. SpaceX has completed final checks, fueling tests, and a successful static fire of the rocket’s first stage engines. The reusable nature of both the rocket and capsule highlights SpaceX’s commitment to sustainable and cost-effective space travel.
The Crew Dragon, previously flown and refurbished for this mission, has undergone rigorous safety assessments. Its life-support systems, avionics, and heat shield have all been tested and cleared for another journey to low Earth orbit. Engineers have confirmed that all critical systems are performing nominally.
The Ax-4 crew includes astronauts from multiple nationalities, underscoring the global nature of space exploration in the modern era. In addition to scientific objectives, the mission serves diplomatic and educational functions. Crew members are expected to engage with students through live Q&A sessions and collaborate with scientists on international experiments.
A key feature of the Ax-4 mission is the further development of private-sector capabilities in space. As NASA moves towards the Artemis era of lunar exploration and deep-space missions, partnerships with private entities like Axiom Space become increasingly vital. These missions are not only proof-of-concept exercises for private stations and operations—they are essential steps in transitioning routine orbital work from government agencies to commercial providers.
During their 10–14-day stay aboard the International Space Station, the Ax-4 crew will conduct over 20 experiments. These include microgravity research in biology, fluid dynamics, and materials science. Data gathered from these experiments could inform future technology development for both space applications and use on Earth.
NASA has also provided support to ensure the successful integration of the Axiom-4 crew with the current ISS staff, including shared safety drills and handover protocols. Coordination with ISS partners ensures that traffic to and from the station, which now hosts an increasingly diverse roster of astronauts, is efficient and safe.
Axiom Space aims to build and launch its own space station modules by the end of the decade. These modules, designed to initially attach to the ISS, will eventually separate to form an independent orbital platform. Axiom-4 is part of the long-term vision to normalize low Earth orbit as a destination for research, manufacturing, tourism, and international cooperation.
With the ISS scheduled for retirement later this decade, Axiom’s missions act as building blocks for a future where private companies take on the responsibility of orbital infrastructure. By demonstrating the feasibility of private missions, the Ax-4 mission enhances investor confidence, government partnerships, and international interest in space-based opportunities.
Axiom and SpaceX have made public engagement a central theme of the mission. Live broadcasts of the launch, docking, and space-to-Earth calls will allow people around the world to witness and learn from the mission. Schools and universities are encouraged to participate in live sessions, with some experiments selected through student competitions.
Social media updates, behind-the-scenes content, and astronaut diaries help humanize the mission and bring the experience of spaceflight closer to everyday people. This aligns with a growing push to make space exploration accessible, inclusive, and inspirational.
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