SpaceX

Axiom Space

ISRO

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a distinguished pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF), has been handpicked as one of the four astronauts for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) historic Gaganyaan mission—the nation’s inaugural human space flight endeavor. Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, Shukla possesses fluency in both English and his native Hindi. His journey began when he was commissioned into the IAF fighter wing in June 2006. As a combat leader and seasoned test pilot, he boasts an impressive 2,000 hours of flight experience across various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. His ascent to the rank of group captain in March 2024 reflects his exceptional contributions. In 2019, Shukla received a momentous call from ISRO. He embarked on rigorous training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow, Russia—a year-long preparation that would shape his destiny. On February 27, 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled Shukla as one of the elite astronauts undergoing intensive training for India’s maiden human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, scheduled for launch in 2025. Shukla is honored and excited as he prepares to pilot the historic Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS), leaving an indelible mark on India’s remarkable advancements in human space exploration. Courtesy of Axiom Space.

Axiom-4

SpaceX and Axiom launched an all-private mission to the International Space Station. The Ax-4 crew lived and worked on the station, carrying out a full schedule of scientific, outreach, and commercial activities.

Crew Dragon is the first privately built and operated orbital spacecraft capable of flying humans. As a reusable SpaceX capsule, it transports crew members to and from the International Space Station. It will also carry paying customers to the Station and low Earth orbit. While it typically accommodates a crew of four, this number can vary depending on the mission.

Crew Dragon

Shubhanshu Shukla

India

Tibor Kapu, a mechanical engineer from Hungary, has been assigned as a mission specialist for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). Born on November 5, 1991, in Nyíregyháza, Hungary, Kapu’s journey from the classroom to the cosmos is nothing short of remarkable. Kapu’s educational foundation was laid at Gyula Krúdy High School in Nyíregyháza. He later graduated from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, earning a degree in mechanical engineering, followed by a master’s degree, specializing in polymer technology. His expertise extends beyond textbooks, as he contributed to the pharmaceutical and logistical industries, and worked on hybrid car battery development in the automotive industry during his career. His professional journey also took him to Belgium and the United States, where he further honed his skills in advanced technologies. From 2022 until the start of the Hungarian Astronaut Program, Kapu has focused on space radiation protection at an aerospace technology company. In 2023, Kapu emerged as one of four Hungarians selected from a pool of 247 candidates for the Hungarian to Orbit (HUNOR) Astronaut Program.This prestigious initiative aims to send a Hungarian astronaut to space, enabling world-class scientific experiments and tests aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Kapu’s rigorous training encompassed everything from aircraft flying to simulating the space environment, alongside mental and physical endurance tests. His studies delved into space engineering, space health, and spaceflight history, and he actively engaged in scientific experimentation. Beyond science, Kapu embraces adventure. As an avid recreational skydiver, he has successfully completed 38 jumps, and as a runner, 21 half marathons — a testament to his fearlessness and zest for exploration. Kapu eagerly anticipates his role in the historic Ax-4 mission to the space station, where he will contribute to Hungary’s quest for knowledge beyond our planet. Courtesy of Axiom Space.

Tibor Kapu

Hungary

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, of Poland, is a scientist and engineer making significant contributions to the fields of science and space exploration. As a member of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Astronaut Reserve Class of 2022, he emerged from a competitive pool of over 22,500 candidates, securing his place for future missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and beyond. Fluent in English and proficient in French, Sławosz brings a diverse linguistic background to his endeavors. Sławosz’s educational journey began in Łódź, Poland, where he earned his M.Sc. with honors from Łódź University of Technology in 2008. His academic pursuits extended across borders, as he obtained another M.Sc. from Université de Nantes in France and a Diplôme d’Ingénieur from Polytech’Nantes in the same year. His expertise deepened further with a 2011 doctoral dissertation at the University of Aix-Marseille, focusing on radiation-tolerant designs for space applications. Beyond academia, Sławosz made significant contributions at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva. There, he served as a reliability expert and project lead. Notably, from 2018 to 2020, he assumed the critical role of Engineer in Charge for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), overseeing its round-the-clock operations. When not immersed in scientific pursuits, Sławosz seeks adventure. He tests his limits through high-altitude mountaineering expeditions, explores remote corners of the world, and enjoys sailing escapades. Whether in the lab or the great outdoors, Sławosz’s passion for exploration and discovery remains unwavering. Sławosz has been assigned to Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) as mission specialist, pending international partner approval. Courtesy of Axiom Space.

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski

Poland

NASA

This astronaut visited the International Space Station.

ISS Visitor

This astronaut crossed the Kármán Line (100 km), the internationally accepted boundary of space.

Crossed Kármán Line

This astronaut is in the top 5% for total spacewalking time.

Elite Spacewalker

This astronaut is in the top 5% for total time in space.

Elite Spaceflyer

This astronaut has spent over a month in space.

Space Resident

This astronaut is in the top 5% for number of space walks.

Frequent Walker

PeggyWhitson, Ph.D., America’s most experienced astronaut, served as commander on the Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2), the second all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS). During her record-breaking NASA career, she flew on three long-duration space flights and accumulated 665 days in space (now 675 after the Ax-2 mission), more than any other American astronaut or woman astronaut in the world. Whitson has over 38 years of space and science experience with NASA, as a consultant and now as director of human spaceflight for AxiomSpace. Throughout her career, she has held various positions, including NASA’s chief of the Astronaut Office, two-time commander of the ISS, chair of NASA’sAstronaut Selection Board, chief of NASA’s Operations Branch, and deputy division chief for both Medical Sciences and the Astronaut Office, as well as co-chair of the U.S.-Russian Mission Science Working Group. During Ax-2, Whitson became the first female commander of a private space mission, adding to her accomplishment as the first female commander of the ISS, the only woman to serve as ISS commander twice, and the first woman, nonmilitary chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office. During her three previous space missions to the ISS (Expeditions 5, 16, 50/51/52), Whitson conducted 10 spacewalks with over 60hours to her credit and performed hundreds of research experiments on board theISS. On her first long-duration ISS mission (Expedition 5), she was named the first NASA science officer conducting 21 investigations in human life sciences and microgravity sciences, as well as commercial payloads. Throughout her career, she has contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science, and Earth science, and welcomed several cargo spacecraft delivering tons of supplies and research experiments. Whitson received degrees in biology and chemistry from IowaWesleyan and a doctoral degree in biochemistry from Rice University. She grew up on a farm outside the town of Beaconsfield, Iowa, with her siblings and parents, who were farmers. She decided to become an astronaut after she watched the first moon landing on television as a child in 1969. Whitson has been honored with numerous awards, includingNASA medals in Leadership, Outstanding Leadership, andExceptional Service; Michael Collins Trophy for Lifetime Achievement(2024); Forbes 50 over 50 (2023); TIME 100 Most Influential People in the World(2018); and Women in Aviation Lifetime Achievement Award (2017). Courtesy of Axiom Space.

Axiom-2

SpaceX and Axiom launched the second all-private astronaut crew to the ISS. The Ax-2 crew spent 8 days working and living on the International Space Station to implement a full mission manifest of science, outreach, and commercial activities.

STS-111 (Endeavour)

This Space Shuttle flight rotated the Expedition 4 and 5 International Space Station crews and delivered Canadarm2's Mobile Base System, which gave the arm extra reach and mobility.

The first reusable launch and landing spacecraft, the Space Shuttle began a new chapter of human space exploration. It launched like a rocket but landed on a runway like a plane. Shuttle crews deployed dozens of commercial satellites and two interplanetary probes to Venus and Jupiter. The Shuttle served as a mini space station and hosted hundreds of biomedical, psychological, physiological, materials science, and physics experiments that have directly benefited life on Earth. The five flight-worthy Shuttles -- Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour -- flew 135 missions over 30 years. The Shuttles helped construct the Russian Mir space station and brought nearly 80% of the International Space Station to orbit. Shuttles also deployed and serviced the Hubble Space Telescope.

Space Shuttle

Soyuz TMA-11

Soyuz TMA-11 ferried part of the Expedition 16 crew to and from the International Space Station. Malaysian astronaut Shukor joined for a short duration mission, returning to Earth on Soyuz TMA-10. During reentry, the Service Module failed to separate from the Descent Module, resulting in a harsh and steep reentry and landing. The Soyuz reentered hatch first, nearly causing a burn through and the loss of the crew. The Service Module finally tore free, and Soyuz righted itself and landed safely.

Soyuz is a human-carrying capsule built and operated by Russia, capable of transporting up to three people to the Space Station at a time. It has been upgraded numerous times since its first use in the 1960s for the Soviet lunar program and was the only crewed vehicle for the Station from 2011 to 2020.

Soyuz

Soyuz MS-03

Soyuz MS-03 took three members of the Expedition 50 crew to the International Space Station. Whitson remained on the ISS after Soyuz MS-03's mission was complete and landed with the Soyuz MS-04

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