June 23, 2025 at 9:02 PM Updated: [See splashdown of Ax-3 crew when they returned home from their mission] Axiom Space officials say the launch marks a milestone, as the first government-sponsored flight for astronauts from Indian, Poland and Hungary in more than 40 years. It will also be the second human spaceflight mission for each of these countries. The mission was originally scheduled for Sunday, June 8, before being moved a number of other times. The latest attempt was postponed after NASA said it was working with Roscosmos to understand a new pressure signature after the recent post-repair effort on the space station’s Zvezda service module. The Ax-4 crew will conduct research for 60 scientific studies and activities, including cancer treatments, gut microbiology and bone health. Ax-1 launched in April 2022, Ax-2 launched in May 2023, and most recently, Ax-3 launched in January 2024, during which the crew spent 18 days docked. The targeted docking time at the ISS is approximately 7 a.m. on Thursday, NASA said.