A team of private astronauts from around the globe successfully arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) early Thursday morning.
The arrival of the four astronauts capped a landmark launch by Houston-based Axiom Space in partnership with Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
“Docking confirmed!” SpaceX posted in an accompanying video on the early morning hours on Thursday.
The Axiom Mission 4 crew launched on a brand-new SpaceX Dragon capsule, dubbed “Grace,” from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday. After a 28-hour spaceflight, the ship docked at the ISS Thursday morning, connecting to one of the station’s primary ports.
Led by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, the Ax-4 crew includes Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Slawosz Uznanski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary — each the first astronaut from their respective countries to reach the ISS.
“Our Ax-4 crewmates made it safely aboard the @Space_Station today! It was a pleasure and an honor to monitor their approach and work the hatch opening. I also got a couple good photos as they caught up and approached from below the station! Welcome Peggy, Shux, Suave, and Tibor!,” wrote Astronaut Nichole “Vapor” Ayers.
Leaders from each country have celebrated the milestone, made possible through the backing of Musk’s SpaceX and Axiom’s framework.
Whitson, now director of human spaceflight at Axiom, holds the U.S. record for most cumulative days in space — currently 675 — and is expected to approach 700 by the end of the mission.
The recent flight is just another landmark in Texas’ growing dominance in the commercial space race, especially as Musk chose to move SpaceX headquarters to the Lone Star State last year, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
From Axiom’s Houston headquarters to SpaceX’s launch site in Boca Chica, Texas is becoming a central hub for the expanding “off-Earth” economy.
Thursday’s docking marks Axiom’s fourth private crewed mission to the ISS since 2022 and its most ambitious yet: the Ax-4 team is scheduled to complete more than 60 science experiments during their 14-day stay — more than any previous Axiom crew.
The mission also represents a major step forward in international space research and cooperation.
ShShukla, a pilot in the Indian Air Force, spoke emotionally during the welcome ceremony, expressing excitement to work with researchers from around the world.
Though the astronauts hail from across the globe, the mission itself was designed, built, and launched from American — specifically Texan — soil.
Axiom Space’s long-term goal is to build the first private space station in Earth orbit — a key part of NASA’s transition plan as the ISS nears retirement in 2030. The company envisions the station as a hub for microgravity research, manufacturing, and international astronaut training.