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UPDATE: Space mission with Polish astronaut delayed, new launch date to be confirmed

12.06.2025 17:00
The launch of the Ax-4 mission, which includes Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, has been delayed until at least mid-next week due to technical issues, NASA says.
At Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski is preparing for his journey to space as part of the upcoming Ax-4 mission.
At Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski is preparing for his journey to space as part of the upcoming Ax-4 mission.Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka/Leszek Szymański

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center had earlier suggested a provisional launch window of Friday, 13 June, at 13:12 CET. But neither Axiom Space, which is running the mission, nor SpaceX, which provides the Falcon 9 rocket, have confirmed a new date.

The Federal Aviation Administration had also listed the Friday launch, though this now appears outdated in light of NASA’s update.

Further details are expected soon from the Polish Space Agency, whose representatives are currently at Cape Canaveral.

Uznański-Wiśniewski, set to become the second Pole in space, shared a farewell video showing the traditional “wave-off” - a ceremonial goodbye to mission teams and supporters of the Ignis mission.

His wife, MP Aleksandra Wiśniewska-Uznańska, said she had taken part in Wednesday’s vote of confidence in Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government.

After the government won the vote, she announced plans to travel to Florida to see her husband ahead of his planned launch.

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Source: PAP/X/@esaspaceflight/@AK_Wisniewska/@Space_Station