Hungarian researcher-astronaut Tibor Kapu will launch to the International Space Station (ISS) on 29 May 2025, as part of the Axiom Mission 4 crew—marking a major milestone for Hungary’s space ambitions, as it was officially announced Tuesday.
Ministerial commissioner for space research Orsolya Ferencz confirmed the mission date in a video posted on Facebook, highlighting the end of a nearly two-year national selection and training process, followed by eight months of mission-specific preparation in the United States. Kapu and his backup, Gyula Cserényi, successfully completed a rigorous training programme that met the highest standards of NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom Space.
‘Having completed his training, Tibor Kapu is ready for this mission. Hungary is once again demonstrating its perseverance and scientific commitment. The Hungarian flag will return to space after many decades,’ Ferencz stated.
The Falcon 9 rocket, developed by SpaceX, is scheduled to lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 19:03 CET. The mission crew will also include American commander Peggy Whitson, Polish mission specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Indian pilot Shubanshu Shukla.
According to Balázs Nagy, R&D director of the HUNOR – Hungarian Astronaut Programme, Kapu will conduct around 25 Hungarian-led experiments developed by universities, research institutes, and private companies. In total, the mission will involve roughly 60 experiments from 31 countries—a record for any Axiom mission to date. These studies will span a range of scientific fields, including cancer research, diabetes, and medical innovation. One goal is to pave the way for sending the first astronaut with type 2 diabetes into space.
Hungarian TV channel TV2 will broadcast the launch live in a special programme, as confirmed on the HUNOR Facebook page.
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