The private Ax-4 astronaut mission will return to Earth on the morning of July 14, 2024. The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which has been transporting four astronauts, is set to undock from the International Space Station (ISS) at approximately 7:05 a.m. EDT (11:05 GMT). Viewers can watch the event live on platforms provided by NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom Space, the Houston-based company that organized the mission.
NASA’s live coverage begins at 4:30 a.m. EDT (08:30 GMT) to cover 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 resume its stream at 6:45 a.m. EDT (10:45 GMT) for the undocking event. Axiom Space will also provide a live stream of the mission’s reentry and splashdown, although NASA has not specified an exact time for the capsule’s return to Earth, which will occur in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast.
Meet the Ax-4 Crew
The Ax-4 mission is led by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut who holds the record for the longest cumulative time spent in space by an American, totaling nearly 700 days. Currently serving as Axiom’s director of human spaceflight, Whitson is joined by pilot Shubhanshu “Shux” Shukla from India, mission specialist Sławosz “Suave” Uznański-Wiśniewski, an astronaut from the European Space Agency representing Poland, and mission specialist Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Notably, all three of Whitson’s crewmates are the first astronauts from their respective countries to visit the ISS.
The Ax-4 mission launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 25, 2024, and successfully arrived at the ISS the following day. During their two-week stay in orbit, the private astronauts engaged in over 60 scientific experiments and outreach activities, contributing to a growing body of research and public interest in space exploration. While the planned duration of their mission was two weeks, actual departure dates are subject to change based on weather conditions at the splashdown site.
Axiom’s Growing Impact on Space Exploration
Ax-4 is the fourth crewed mission to the ISS organized by Axiom Space. Previous missions launched in April 2022, May 2023, and January 2024 have similarly utilized SpaceX technology. With each mission, Axiom is helping to establish a framework for private space travel, aiming to expand the commercial use of space and enhance international cooperation in scientific endeavors.
As the Ax-4 mission comes to a close, it marks another significant step in the evolution of private space travel, showcasing the capabilities of commercial partnerships in advancing human presence in low Earth orbit. The return of the Ax-4 crew not only highlights their individual achievements but also reinforces the potential for future missions in the expanding off-Earth economy.
