Veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, the United States’ most experienced space traveler, has returned to orbit early Wednesday morning at the helm of a groundbreaking private mission. Accompanied by three first-time space travelers from India, Poland, and Hungary, Whitson launched aboard Crew Dragon Grace — a brand-new SpaceX capsule — on Axiom Space’s fourth non-government mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The Falcon 9 rocket ignited the pre-dawn skies over Florida as it lifted off from NASA’s historic Pad 39A at 2:31 a.m. EDT, following several weather- and technical-related delays. Riding atop the rocket were Whitson and her international crew: Indian Air Force test pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, European Space Agency astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, and Hungarian engineer Tibor Kapu.
This mission, known as Ax-4, marks a significant milestone in commercial spaceflight. The multinational team represents a new chapter in global access to space, with Axiom Space continuing its role as a trailblazer in facilitating private astronaut missions (PAMs) in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX.
A Smooth Ascent and a Historic Capsule
The ascent into low-Earth orbit proceeded without incident. Approximately nine and a half minutes after launch, the Crew Dragon Grace separated from the rocket’s upper stage and began its independent journey to the ISS. Whitson, now on her fourth space mission, announced the name of the spacecraft with characteristic eloquence:
“We had an incredible ride uphill, and now we’d like to set our course for the International Space Station aboard the newest member of the Dragon fleet, our spacecraft named Grace. Grace reminds us that spaceflight is not just a feat of engineering, but an act of goodwill to the benefit of every human everywhere.”
The Ax-4 crew, seen during preflight training (left to right): Hungarian engineer Tibor Kapu, test pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India, commander Peggy Whitson and European Space Agency astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland. Credit: SpaceX
Meanwhile, the Falcon 9 first stage executed a successful return to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station — its second flight and SpaceX’s 467th booster recovery overall.
The Ax-4 crew is expected to dock with the space station after a 28-hour orbital chase, arriving at 7 a.m. EDT Thursday at the forward Harmony module. They will be welcomed by the current ISS occupants: NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nicole Ayers, Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Soyuz MS-27 crewmates Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and NASA’s Jonny Kim.
This mission is especially meaningful for the rookie astronauts, representing India’s first private astronaut to the ISS, along with national milestones for Poland and Hungary. Over their two-week stay, the crew will conduct dozens of science experiments, test advanced technologies, and participate in live outreach events with students and institutions in their home countries.
Axiom Space reports that the cost for each seat on such missions typically ranges from $65 to $70 million — covering comprehensive astronaut training, launch, mission support, and reentry.
A Living Legend Returns to Space
At 65, Whitson is not just a leader of this mission but a living legend in human spaceflight. With 675 cumulative days in orbit prior to this flight, she is the most experienced female astronaut in history, ranks first among all U.S. astronauts, and ninth overall globally. She also holds the world record for most spacewalks by a woman — 10 in total, clocking 60 hours and 21 minutes.
Her presence as commander of Ax-4 is a boon for her crewmates, who expressed admiration for her leadership. “We consider ourselves extremely lucky to be flying with Peggy, the best commander we could have wished for,” said Uznański-Wiśniewski.
Whitson’s post-retirement involvement with Axiom Space reflects her enduring passion for spaceflight.
“I think I’m somewhat addicted to space,” she said in a recent interview. “It’s exhilarating to live in an environment so different from Earth. And having adapted to that environment, it’s fun to share that experience with the rookie flyers. I get to share in their first-time awe all over again.”
Delays and Docking Challenges
Originally slated for launch on June 10, the Ax-4 mission faced several setbacks, including offshore weather concerns and the discovery of an oxygen leak in the Falcon 9’s first stage plumbing. Additional caution stemmed from small air leaks in a Russian compartment of the ISS, a known issue since 2019. To address safety concerns, Russian engineers agreed to lower the pressure in the affected PrK vestibule to 1.9 psi, ensuring a more robust seal between ISS modules.
Despite the hurdles, the mission is now on track and poised to deliver a robust research agenda. Scientists from 31 countries are expected to be involved in analyzing data collected during Ax-4’s experiments.
Axiom Space, which aims to build the world’s first commercial space station later this decade, sees missions like Ax-4 as key stepping stones. Whitson emphasized the importance of such missions in expanding access to space for emerging space nations:
“This opens up access to countries that might not normally get access to space. That’s very exciting.”
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