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After undocking from the International Space Station on Monday, July 14 at 6:15 a.m. CT, the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew safely splashed down off the coast of California aboard SpaceX Dragon “Grace” on Tuesday, July 15 at 4:31 a.m. CT.

The Ax-4 crewmembers, led by Commander Peggy Whitson of the U.S., includes Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary. For each of these countries, this mission has realized the return to human spaceflight, with all three nations sending astronauts to space for the first time in more than 40 years. Additionally, this marks the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary have conducted a mission on board the International Space Station.

“The Ax-4 mission is a powerful demonstration of what’s possible through commercial space,” said Tejpaul Bhatia, CEO of �����о���. “By enabling astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary to carry out scientific research aboard the space station, we are supporting these nations in their contributions to human spaceflight. This mission reflects �����о���’s vision of a thriving low-Earth orbit economy, where access to space is no longer limited to a few, but extends to all who seek to explore, discover, and innovate.”

Over the course of their 18-day mission aboard the orbiting laboratory, the Ax-4 crew conducted more than 60 scientific experiments across a wide range of disciplines, including life sciences, materials research, Earth observation, and technology demonstrations. These investigations represented the interests of 31 countries, underscoring the mission’s global impact in advancing science and innovation in microgravity.

In addition to the scientific research, the crew participated in over 20 outreach events, connecting with a diverse global audience that included government officials, students, researchers, the media, and aspiring astronauts. These engagements served as a platform to share the mission’s goals, inspire future generations, and highlight the importance of international collaboration.

Ax-4 is the fourth in �����о���’s series of human spaceflight missions to the International Space Station. As the only private company to have successfully executed private astronaut missions to the orbiting laboratory, �����о��� has expanded access to low-Earth orbit by enabling governments, academic institutions, private organizations, and individuals to engage in research, technology demonstrations, and educational outreach in space. In parallel, these missions serve as a precursor for �����о���’s long-term vision—the launch and operation of Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station.

�����о���’s previous missions have included astronauts from the United States, Spain, Israel, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Türkiye, and Sweden, with support from the European Space Agency (ESA). With Ax-4, �����о��� continues to build a foundation for the future of commercial space, demonstrating the importance of international participation.

You can watch the replay of the splashdown at .