Three Nations Rejoin the Cosmos as Crew Capsule Successfully Docks with ISS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — For the first time in over 40 years, astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary have arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on a SpaceX private flight. This marks a significant milestone, as no astronauts from these nations have previously visited the ISS.

The crew of four, including America’s veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday. They will spend two weeks aboard the station, engaging in numerous experiments and research activities.

Whitson, now working for Axiom Space, commands this historic mission. Joining her are Indian Air Force pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, mechanical engineer Tibor Kapu from Hungary, and Polish radiation expert Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, an astronaut with the European Space Agency.

Upon arrival, the astronauts were greeted warmly by the station’s seven full-time residents, representing six different countries. Shukla described the experience as “fantastic,” while Kapu remarked on the significance of diverse national representation among the crew.

Despite their excitement, the newcomers faced challenges leading up to the launch. They underwent quarantine starting May 25 due to delays related to safety checks on the ISS after a leak was discovered on the Russian segment of the station.

This mission is the fourth sponsored by Axiom Space, a sign of the increasing involvement of private companies in human spaceflight. As NASA plans to retire the ISS in 2030, the agency is actively supporting the development of commercial space stations.

As international cooperation in space continues to expand, the arrival of these astronauts signifies a new era of exploration and collaboration among nations.