Ax-4 Assigned Crew Completes Training
Mission Planned for Not Earlier than Spring 2025
The assigned crew for the Axiom Space Ax-4 mission has completed its training with international partners in anticipation of a planned 14 day mission to the International Space Station.
“With a culturally diverse crew, we are not only advancing scientific knowledge but also fostering international collaboration,"
Peggy Whitson, Axiom Space
The assigned crew includes Ax-4 pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India, ESA project astronaut and assigned mission specialist Sławosz Uznański from Poland, and assigned Ax-4 mission specialist Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The crew will fly under the command of Axiom Space's Director of Human Spaceflight and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson.
“With a culturally diverse crew, we are not only advancing scientific knowledge but also fostering international collaboration," Whitson said in a statement posted to the Axiom Space website. "Our previous missions set the stage and with Ax-4, we ascend even higher, bringing more nations to low-Earth orbit and expanding humanity’s reach among the stars.”
Astronaut training with international partners is an important part of preparing the assigned Ax-4 astronauts for their planned mission to the International Space Station in spring 2025. Collaborating with NASA and various international partner nations necessitates a thorough understanding of the space station's systems and operations.
The European SpaceAgency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), along with the Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation (JAMSS), have provided astronaut training programs to ensure the assigned Ax-4 crew is adept at functioning within the space station's multinational environment. This training is crucial for the assigned Ax-4 astronauts to efficiently and successfully execute their mission tasks onboard.
At ESA’s European Astronaut Center (EAC) in Cologne, Germany, the assigned Ax-4 crew completed comprehensive training covering communications systems, emergency response procedures, and conducting research activities inside the Columbus module. This module, Europe's contribution to the International Space Station, serves as a versatile laboratory for interdisciplinary research in microgravity.
Following ESA training, the crew underwent rigorous training sessions at JAXA's Tsukuba Space Center in Japan, concentrating on understanding the operation of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), known as Kibō. The training included gaining an in-depth understanding of the JEM module's capabilities.
During their time at JAXA, the crew had the unique opportunity to meet with ambassadors and officials from their respective embassies in Japan, as well as the vice president of JAXA. These interactions underscored the importance of international collaboration in space exploration.
Axiom Space's partnership with JAMSS plays an important role in this collaboration, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and resources. This partnership not only enhances the training and preparedness of the assigned crew but also strengthens the bonds between the participating nations.
By completing these training programs, the assigned Ax-4 crew is more prepared to navigate the demands of living and working on station to ensure mission success.