Ax-4 mission
Axiom Space, in collaboration with the HUNOR-program, ISRO Indian Space Research Organisation and the European Space Agency, will send two research astronauts and a pilot on board the International Space Station, in addition to a commander.
Axiom Mission 4 is scheduled for 2025. The Ax-4 crew will consist of Hungarian research astronaut Tibor Kapu, Indian pilot Shubhanshu Shukla and Polish research astronaut Sławosz Uznański, and the mission commander will be American astronaut Peggy Whitson.
The mission lays a strong emphasis on national and organizational science portfolios, technology demonstrations and the commercial exploitation of space research. In addition, the mission aims to foster cooperation between international partners by sharing knowledge, resources and opportunities, consolidating the leading role of these nations within the growing space community.
Axiom Space mission 4, which will include the Hungarian astronaut, is expected to be launched in spring 2025. The timing of human spaceflights to the space station is often affected by weather conditions, crew schedules and other circumstances, so the date may still change.
The domestic assessment and evaluation of the program’s scientific portfolio was completed on October 30, 2024, so the program’s experts started the process of NASA’s approval of the research. The portfolio is based on more than 35 activities, including various scientific experiments, technological developments and outreach activities.
In the domestic evaluation, scientists assessed the scientific relevance of the experiments against the international forefront of space technology. The research selected will be allowed to be launched on board the International Space Station with the permission of the US space agency.
The final scientific portfolio will be published on our website.
The HUNOR-program aims to stimulate the domestic space sector and create outstanding career opportunities in Hungary. This growth will support the development of a robust space sector that will make Hungary more competitive internationally in the high-tech industry.
Hungary will strengthen its position in the international arena by participating in the Ax-4 mission alongside the United States, Poland and India. This cooperation not only enhances Hungary’s scientific standing, but also opens new avenues for space industry partnerships and innovation.
The research astronauts started their mission-specific training at Axiom Space in Houston in August 2024. That is where they met the other members of the Ax-4 mission crew, a Polish and an Indian colleague and their reserve, and their commander, astronaut Peggy Whitson. They have been working together and preparing for the mission ever since.
