A group of private spacefarers that includes one of NASA’s most seasoned astronauts is waiting an extra 24 hours to make a short trip up to the International Space Station.
A venture known as Axiom Mission 4 was due to get off the ground on the morning of Tuesday, June 10. That was before NASA announced that the mission’s launch from Florida’s Space Coast in Cape Canaveral would be delayed yet again to wait out some bad weather.
In the meantime, the seven astronauts already aboard the space station orbiting about 250 miles above Earth have been diligently preparing for the new arrivals. That crew, led by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, is now due to get off the ground no earlier than Wednesday, June 11.
Axiom Space, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is the company behind the mission, which is its latest in a series of human spaceflights in partnership with both NASA and SpaceX – the commercial spaceflight company founded by billionaire Elon Musk. The mission – also known as Ax-4 – represents the fourth time in about three years that a crew has ventured to the space station for a private two-week research mission.
Here’s everything to know about Axiom Space’s fourth crewed mission to the International Space Station.
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What is the Axiom 4 mission?
The crew members are due to undertake about 60 scientific experiments during their time aboard the International Space Station. The research was developed specifically to take place in microgravity on behalf of organizations around the world, according to Axiom Space.
The Axiom missions are also aimed at advancing the company’s goals of building a space station that will attach to the ISS before its planned 2030 retirement. The Axiom missions began in 2022, with the most recent, Axiom Mission 3, taking place in January 2024.
What also makes Ax-4 notable is that it is the first time in more than 40 years that India, Poland and Hungary have had a crew member from their respective nations on a government-sponsored spaceflight. The upcoming spaceflight is also each nation’s first-ever mission to the space station.
What is the International Space Station?
For 25 years, the International Space Station has been stationed in low-Earth orbit, typically about 250 miles high, where it has been home to astronauts from all over the world.
The orbital laboratory is operated through a global partnership of space agencies, including NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
More than 280 spacefarers from 23 countries have visited the International Space Station, including 169 from the United States alone, according to NASA. Bigger than a six-bedroom house, the outpost has six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym and a 360-degree view bay window.
As of now, seven members of Expedition 73, including three Americans, are living aboard the ISS – conducting scientific research and working to maintain the station.
When will Axiom 4 launch from Florida?
The launch could happen as early as 8 a.m. ET Wednesday, June 11, from NASA’s historic Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.
The Ax-4 crew are due to ride a brand-new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to orbit, which will get off the ground with the assistance of the company’s two-stage Falcon 9 rocket.
The Ax-4 crew and SpaceX teams completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of liftoff on Tuesday pic.twitter.com/MEhuTdeuDf
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 8, 2025
The launch was delayed Monday, June 9 for the third time as mission operators continue to plan around inclement weather forecasted along the Dragon’s flight path.
Axiom Space had originally been working toward a May 29 launch before takeoff was first pushed to June 8 as part of adjustments to the space station’s schedule. The launch was then bumped again to June 10 before NASA announced it would be delayed for another 24 hours.
Once the Dragon separates from the Falcon 9 following liftoff, the capsule will continue its independent journey to the orbital outpost.
Axiom-4 mission: How to watch livestream of crewed SpaceX rocket launch from Florida
How to watch NASA, SpaceX livestream of launch
Those watching from home will have plenty of options to catch a livestream of the spaceflight.
Both SpaceX and Axiom Space will provide a webcast, with coverage beginning about two hours before the launch. SpaceX’s webcast will be available on its website here, and on social media site X.
NASA will join coverage of the launch at 7:05 a.m. ET June 11 on its NASA+ streaming service.
Once the Dragon carrying the crew reaches orbit, live coverage will end before resuming around 10:30 a.m. ET Thursday, June 12 as the spacecraft approaches the International Space Station.
The spacecraft is expected to dock by 12:30 p.m. ET at the station’s Harmony module, after which the hatches between the spacecraft and the module will open to allow the crew to enter the ISS.
Who is the crew of Axiom 4?
Here’s a look at the four international astronauts crewing Ax-4:
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Commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space who previously commanded Ax-2
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Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, an astronaut with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
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Mission specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a scientist and engineer from Poland who is part of the European Space Agency’s reserve astronaut class
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Mission specialist Tibor Kapu, a mechanical engineer from Hungary
How long will the Ax-4 crew be in space?
The Ax-4 crew members and their Dragon spacecraft are expected to be docked at the space station for up to 14 days.
Though their exact return date remains unclear, they would eventually depart the station on the Dragon for a water landing off the coast of California, where SpaceX has recently moved its recovery operations.
Contributing: Brooke Edwards, FLORIDA TODAY
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SpaceX Axiom 4 taking astronauts to space station: When is launch?
