Ax-4 Mission Return: Where will splashdown occur? See date, time, how to watch livestream and crew
Ax-4 astronaut mission, organized by Axiom Space, will conclude its stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on July 14. The mission launched on June 25 and marks the fourth private crewed trip by Axiom. The SpaceX Crew Dragon will undock and return four astronauts back to Earth.The Ax-4 mission's return is scheduled for early Monday morning, July 14. The Crew Dragon capsule will undock from the ISS at around 7:05 a.m. EDT (1105 GMT). The return process will be covered live by NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom Space.
NASA will begin live streaming at 4:30 a.m. EDT (0830 GMT) to show the closing of the hatches between the station and the spacecraft. Hatch closure is expected around 4:55 a.m. EDT (0855 GMT).
NASA will resume coverage at 6:45 a.m. EDT (1045 GMT) for the undocking itself. Axiom and SpaceX will also stream the event starting at this time.
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NASA's livestream will be accessible through its official platforms. SpaceX and Axiom Space will stream the action on their respective websites. The splashdown is expected to occur in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. However, NASA has not given an exact time for the landing. The timeline depends on weather conditions near the splashdown zone. Axiom Space will handle streaming of the reentry and splashdown process.Also Read: Virgin River Season 7: Is release date confirmed? See what to expect, cast, new characters, key storylines and season 8 update
The Ax-4 mission is commanded by Peggy Whitson. She is a former NASA astronaut and now serves as Axiom's director of human spaceflight. Whitson has spent nearly 700 days in space, the most by any American astronaut.Her crewmates include: Shubhanshu Shukla , pilot from India
, pilot from India Sławosz Uznański , Polish astronaut and ESA mission specialist
, Polish astronaut and ESA mission specialist Tibor Kapu, Hungarian mission specialist All three are the first individuals from their countries to visit the ISS.The Ax-4 mission launched on June 25 atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The capsule docked at the ISS the next day.During their stay, the four astronauts conducted over 60 scientific experiments and public outreach activities. The original plan was for a two-week stay, but the schedule allowed for flexibility depending on weather and ISS operations.Ax-4 is the fourth private mission organized by Axiom. Previous missions were launched in April 2022, May 2023, and January 2024. All missions have used SpaceX spacecraft for travel.
What time will the Ax-4 crew undock from the ISS?
The undocking of the Ax-4 Crew Dragon from the ISS is scheduled for 7:05 a.m. EDT (1105 GMT) on July 14, 2025.
Who are the astronauts on the Ax-4 mission?
The crew includes Peggy Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla, Sławosz Uznański, and Tibor Kapu. They represent the United States, India, Poland, and Hungary.
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