ASTRONAUTS FROM THREE NATIONS REACH THE STARS

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying four astronauts on Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4, to the International Space Station.

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A HISTORIC LAUNCH

The crew, led by veteran U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson, includes first-time spacefarers from India, Poland, and Hungary, marking each country’s initial visit to the orbiting laboratory. The mission, organized by Houston-based Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX, underscores a new era of international collaboration in private spaceflight.

The astronauts—Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, Tibor Kapu of Hungary, and Whitson—rode atop a Crew Dragon capsule, which separated from the rocket’s second stage to begin its journey.

Live footage captured the spacecraft soaring through the night sky, trailed by a glowing plume of exhaust, with the crew seated calmly in their white-and-black flight suits. The mission faced delays due to an oxygen leak in the rocket and air leaks on the station's Russian side, but the successful launch signals a milestone for global space exploration.

Each nation is funding its astronaut's seat, with Hungary disclosing a $100 million cost, while India and Poland keep their figures private.

The crew is set to spend 14 days aboard the station, conducting research and representing their countries’ ambitions to return to human spaceflight after decades.

This flight, Axiom’s fourth since 2022, highlights the growing role of private companies in opening space to new players.

CREW WITH DEEP ROOTS