CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — In a groundbreaking event Thursday, astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary journeyed to the International Space Station (ISS) after being transported by SpaceX’s private spaceflight. This marks the first time in over four decades that astronauts from these nations have reached the orbital laboratory.
The team of four astronauts is set to carry out a multitude of scientific experiments during their two-week residency at the ISS. This mission commenced on Wednesday with their launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson is leading this pioneering crew. Whitson, who holds the distinction of being America’s most experienced space traveler, is associated with Axiom Space, the Houston-based company that orchestrated the private space mission.
Joining Whitson are Shubhanshu Shukla from India, who serves as a pilot with the Indian Air Force; Tibor Kapu from Hungary, a proficient mechanical engineer; and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, a skilled radiation expert who is participating as part of the European Space Agency’s temporary flight personnel.
This mission is historic for India, Poland, and Hungary, as it marks the first time astronauts from these countries have visited the ISS. Previous space missions from these nations occurred in the late 1970s and 1980s, under the Soviet space program.
Upon arrival, the astronauts were warmly welcomed by the station’s existing seven-member crew, representing six nations: the United States, Russia, Japan, India, Poland, and Hungary. In a demonstration of international camaraderie, the new arrivals exchanged greetings and enjoyed drinks through straws in zero gravity.
Kapu celebrated the diversity onboard, noting, “We have so many countries at the same time on the space station,” and highlighted that seven out of the 11 astronauts are novices in space travel, emphasizing the growing exploration of space. Uznanski-Wisniewski pledged, “We will all try to do the best representing our countries,” while Shukla described the ongoing experience as “fantastic … wonderful.”
The ISS commander, Takuya Onishi from Japan, expressed his joy at welcoming the newcomers after a prolonged wait, referencing the extensive delays and the pre-launch isolation the new crew faced.
To ensure their health and safety, the astronauts entered quarantine on May 25, enduring an extended wait as their launch faced multiple delays. The most recent setback was due to NASA’s inspections for leak monitoring, following repair work on a persistent issue on the Russian segment of the station.
This mission marks the fourth ISS expedition sponsored by Axiom Space since 2022. As NASA plans to retire the current space station by 2030 after over thirty years in service, the agency supports the coming generation of private enterprises, such as Axiom, that are developing alternative bases for space exploration.