IGNIS, Poland’s first technological and scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS), launched successfully today, June 25, 2025, at 2:31 a.m. EDT, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The international crew of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)includes:

• Peggy Whitson (USA, Commander)
• Shubhanshu Shukla (India, Pilot)
• Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland, Mission Specialist)
• Tibor Kapu (Hungary, Mission Specialist)

The crew will spend approximately two weeks aboard the ISS, conducting a range of scientific research and outreach activities.

During the IGNIS mission, the Polish astronaut will carry out 13 experiments proposed by Polish companies and universities and devised in cooperation with ESA. The vast scope of experiments will encompass studies on astronauts’ health, the microbiome, new materials and technologies, including the use of artificial intelligence.

The Polish astronaut will also run an educational programme covering, among other things, engineering projects, competitions, workshops, meetings with experts, and dissemination of educational materials for schools.  

The IGNIS mission represents a defining milestone for Poland in space exploration.