SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches Axiom Space Ax-4 mission
SpaceX just launched the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) from Kennedy Space Center, sending four private astronauts for a two-week adventure on the International Space Station.
The mission uses a brand-new Dragon capsule and is run by Axiom Space, with help from NASA and the European Space Agency.
A look at the crew and mission details
The Ax-4 crew features commander Peggy Whitson and astronauts representing India, Poland, and Hungary—making it their first government-backed ISS trip in decades.
Their Dragon capsule is set to dock automatically with the ISS around 7:00am ET on June 26.
While aboard, they'll dive into over 60 experiments spanning human health, biology, new materials, and tech demos.
Axiom aims to build its own space station
All this research supports Axiom's big goal: building its own commercial space station.
NASA is coordinating with international partners—even after some recent repairs.
And fun fact: you can spot the ISS as a fast-moving bright dot in the sky every 90 minutes!