The private Ax-4 astronaut mission is scheduled to return to Earth on the morning of July 14, 2023. The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, carrying four astronauts, will undock from the International Space Station (ISS) at approximately 7:05 a.m. EDT (11:05 GMT). Live coverage of the event will be available through NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom Space, the Houston-based company that organized the Ax-4 mission.
NASA will begin its live stream at 4:30 a.m. EDT (08:30 GMT), covering the closing of the hatches between the ISS and the Crew Dragon, expected around 4:55 a.m. EDT (08:55 GMT). The agency will continue its coverage starting at 6:45 a.m. EDT (10:45 GMT) for the undocking process. Axiom Space will also provide a live stream of the mission’s reentry and splashdown, which will occur in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast.
Axiom-4 Crew and Mission Highlights
The Ax-4 mission is commanded by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut who holds the record for the most cumulative time spent in space by any American, totaling nearly 700 days. Whitson now serves as Axiom’s director of human spaceflight. Her crewmates include mission pilot Shubhanshu “Shux” Shukla from India, mission specialist Sławosz “Suave” Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland, representing the European Space Agency, and mission specialist Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Notably, these astronauts are the first individuals from their respective countries to participate in a mission to the ISS.
The Ax-4 mission launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 25, 2023, arriving at the ISS the following day. During their two-week stay in orbit, the crew has engaged in over 60 scientific experiments and outreach activities, although the actual duration of their stay has been flexible, influenced by weather conditions at the splashdown site.
Axiom Space’s Role in Commercial Spaceflight
Ax-4 represents the fourth crewed mission to the ISS operated by Axiom Space, following previous missions launched in April 2022, May 2023, and January 2024. Each of these missions utilized SpaceX hardware, showcasing the ongoing collaboration between Axiom and SpaceX in advancing commercial spaceflight.
As the Ax-4 astronauts prepare for their return, the mission highlights the growing role of private companies in space exploration and the increasing participation of international astronauts in missions to the ISS. The return of the Ax-4 crew marks another milestone in the journey towards a more commercially accessible space environment.
