Ax-4 Mission Concludes with Record 60+ Experiments and Pacific Splashdown

The four-person crew of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) successfully returned to Earth on July 15, 2025, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. Their return aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Grace, concluded a 20-day private mission, which included an 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was operated by Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX and NASA.

The crew comprised Commander Peggy Whitson of Axiom Space, pilot Shubhanshu Shukla representing the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from the European Space Agency (ESA) and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. For India, Poland, and Hungary, this mission marked the first time in over four decades that national astronauts were launched into space, and notably, the first time any of their government-sponsored astronauts reached the ISS. Shukla's participation is a significant step for India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.

During their extensive stay on the orbiting laboratory, the Ax-4 astronauts conducted over 60 scientific experiments and research studies, alongside more than 20 outreach events. This volume of research represents the most extensive scientific portfolio undertaken on any Axiom Space mission to date. The experiments covered a wide array of disciplines, from human physiology and radiation monitoring to artificial intelligence and agriculture, underscoring the ISS's role as a platform for diverse scientific discovery.

The Crew Dragon Grace undocked from the ISS on July 14, 2025, initiating a 22-hour journey back to Earth. SpaceX, which provided the Falcon 9 rocket for launch on June 25, 2025, and the Crew Dragon spacecraft, managed the complex return operations. The successful splashdown highlights the increasing maturity of commercial spaceflight, enabling more nations and private entities to access low Earth orbit for scientific and exploratory endeavors.