Krzysztof Karwowski, Julia Lasiota
In Brief:
– This June, the first Polish astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS), and only the second Pole in history to fly into space, marks a breakthrough moment in the development of Poland’s national space sector.
– The inclusion of new countries i.e. Poland, Hungary, and India, in crewed spaceflight missions underscores the shifting balance of power in outer space.
– At the same time, the IGNIS mission advances Poland’s strategic goals in a rapidly expanding domestic space sector and serves as a powerful instrument for showcasing its growing potential: reinforcing the role of the Polish Space Agency (POLSA), and elevating the status of Polish universities and companies involved in this difficult but prestigious undertaking.
What Do We Know About the Mission?
Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is a commercial crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS), organised by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and other international partners. It is the fourth crewed mission conducted by Axiom Space and the second with the participation of an ESA project astronaut. This time, this astronaut is a citizen of Poland: Dr. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski.
The mission was initially scheduled to launch in 2024 but was later rescheduled for May 29, 2025, subject to the availability of a suitable weather window [1]. In addition to the Polish astronaut, the Ax-4 crew includes [1, 2]:
- American astronaut Peggy Whitson, who will serve as the mission commander. Whitson holds a PhD in biochemistry and is a NASA veteran and former space shuttle astronaut. She holds the record for the longest cumulative time spent in space by a woman and for the highest number of spacewalks conducted by a female astronaut. She now serves as Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space.
- Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who will serve as the mission pilot and ISRO representative. A seasoned combat and test pilot with the Indian Air Force, Shukla has flown aircraft such as the MiG-29 and Su-30. He holds degrees in both computer science and military studies. He has also been named a potential candidate for India’s first independent crewed space mission, planned for 2026 or 2027.
- Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu, a mission specialist selected through the Hungarian to Orbit (HUNOR) program, funded by the government of Hungary. Kapu is a mechanical engineer with a degree from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) and has participated in numerous research and training programs in Belgium and the U.S.
The launch of the mission is scheduled to take place at NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center, with a Falcon 9 rocket (by SpaceX) tasked with carrying the Ax-4 Crew Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The destination is the International Space Station (ISS), with the scientific component of the mission to be performed primarily in the European laboratory module – Columbus [2, 3].
Axiom Space
The American company Axiom Space is rapidly emerging as one of the key players in the new wave of space commercialisation known as the “New Space”. Founded in 2016, Axiom is actively developing projects of crewed spaceflights and aims to build the world’s first commercial space station in low Earth orbit, the Axiom Station. The company already collaborates with NASA, conducting crewed missions to the ISS using SpaceX’s spacecraft. It also plans to attach its own modules to the ISS in the future.
The establishment of a fully commercial orbital outpost is intended to accelerate the growth of the space market in fields such as space tourism, biomedical research, and manufacturing in microgravity conditions. It also offers the United States a significant infrastructure advantage as the ISS approaches its planned decommissioning [3].
Axiom’s rapid growth reflects a broader trend of strengthening the American private sector’s presence in outer space, where public-private partnerships (PPPs) are becoming a central pillar of national strategy. The construction of Axiom Station is also a strategic response to increasing competition from China, which is expanding its Tiangong (Celestial Palace) space station and actively seeking international partners for its orbital initiatives [4]. The success of the Axiom project could become not only a catalyst for commercial space development but also a tool for reinforcing astropolitical influence in this new domain for the U.S. and its allies [5].
Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski – Who Is the Second Pole in Space?
Dr. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (born in 1984) is a Polish engineer and ESA astronaut. He is the second Pole, after Mirosław Hermaszewski, to be selected for a spaceflight. His field of specialisation is radiation-hardened systems for space applications. Dr. Uznański-Wiśniewski studied at the Lodz University of Technology, Université de Nantes, and Université d’Aix-Marseille (PhD in 2011). For over a decade, he has been affiliated with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), where he led multiple projects related to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). In 2022, he joined ESA’s reserve astronaut corps, and in 2024, he was officially assigned to the Ax-4 crew to the ISS [6].
“IGNIS” – A Leap into the scientific Fire
The planned duration of the Ax-4 mission is 14 days. During the flight organised by Axiom, the Polish astronaut will participate in the first Polish technological and scientific mission aboard the ISS called the IGNIS [7]. The mission will include a series of scientific and practical experiments selected through a national competition organised by POLSA, in partnership with leading Polish research institutions, universities, and industry. The competition was designed to identify the most promising research concepts capable of taking advantage of the unique orbital conditions. The selected projects span astromedical studies, sensor testing, radiation measurements, and microgravity experiments. Some of these experiments have already entered preliminary or testing phases, and their outcomes are expected to generate new data for Polish/European space research and potentially lead to industrial applications.
Unlike Mirosław Hermaszewski – cosmonaut, the first Polish citizen in space who flew as part of the Soviet Interkosmos program (Soyuz 30 mission) – Uznański-Wiśniewski will travel to orbit aboard an American rocket as a mission specialist representing ESA, making him an astronaut in the Western spaceflight model.
Why Does It Matter? [13]
The fact that the second Pole will go to space marks a breakthrough for the development of Poland’s domestic space sector. The IGNIS mission reflects a maturing cooperation between POLSA, academia and industry. The participation of new players like Poland, Hungary, and India in human spaceflight missions also leads to a broader shift in the structure of power in outer space. IGNIS directly supports Poland’s strategic objectives in the dynamically developing national space sector:
- Building unique capabilities within the Polish aerospace ecosystem,
- Accelerating the commercialisation of cutting-edge technologies,
- Strengthening Poland’s role as a trusted partner of ESA,
- Paving the way for future commercial crewed missions involving Polish stakeholders,
- Operationalising the goals of the Polish Space Strategy (2017).
Due to a surge in mostly private investment in space technologies, Poland is emerging as a rising space market in Europe. The number and engagement level of domestic defence & space companies stands in stark contrast to the still largely symbolic involvement of the central government and national funding. The mission, its associated experiments, and the accompanying public narrative – if properly leveraged – could enhance the visibility and competitiveness of the Polish space sector internationally.
The Ax-4 mission will also provide Polish entities with invaluable flight heritage – the in-orbit operational experience essential for space technology certification. Even at this early stage, the contributions of private Polish space firms deserve particular recognition [8, 9].
Other important companies include ScanWay (space optics, space telescopes), Sener (satellite propulsion, precision mechanics), as well as state-run institutes such as the Institute of Aviation (Łukasiewicz Research Network), which conducts work in rocket engineering (e.g., the “Bursztyn” orbital rocket), satellite systems, and dual-use inventions. Another key institution is the Air Force Institute of Technology (ITWL), specialising in space situational awareness and orbital tracking systems [8, 9].
The Polish astronaut’s activities in orbit – if properly promoted – have the potential to spark collective public imagination. This, in turn, could support talent retention and promotion of Polish science both domestically and abroad. Given the demographic decline and the needs of Poland’s innovation-driven economy, it is essential to secure a steady influx of high-quality cadres and to retain the most promising individuals, projects, and competencies within the country. This symbolic “unlocking” of Poland’s potential, more than 45 years after Hermaszewski’s mission, may inspire young people to pursue STEM education, apply to technical universities, and engage in space-related hobbies and projects [13].
The table below presents the most active Polish universities involved in the space sector along with their contributions to the field [8, 9]:
Summary
Dr. Uznański-Wiśniewski’s mission represents more than just a symbolic gesture or an export of Polish pierogi to space. It marks a significant step forward for the Polish space program, which, despite small-scale successes, has long struggled with a lack of necessary recognition [1, 13]. Highlighting Poland’s contribution to space research with its dual-use (civilian and military) applications brings serious benefits: scientific prestige and possible economic impulse. Therefore, both the flight itself and its subsequent outcomes should be actively promoted. Such a narrative should be included among the most important marketing and diplomatic actions of Poland throughout the year 2025 [6, 7, 10].
Update
On May 16, it was announced that the mission was postponed from its original launch date of May 29 to Sunday, June 8 [11]. According to NASA procedures, astronauts started their pre-launch quarantine on May 25. Before the publication of this text, the launch was postponed again, this time to a launch window on Monday, June 9 [12].
Sources:
[1] Polish Space Agency. Misja IGNIS. Retrieved 26.05.2025 from https://polsa.gov.pl/wydarzenia/ignis/
[2] Polish Ministry of Development and Technology. IGNIS – pierwsza polska misja na Międzynarodową Stację Kosmiczną. Retrieved 26.05.2025 from https://www.gov.pl/web/rozwoj-technologia/ignis–pierwsza-polska-misja-na-miedzynarodowa-stacje-kosmiczna
[3] Axiom Space Missions. Retrieved 30.05.2025 from https://www.axiomspace.com/missions
[4] Karwowski, K. & INE (2024). Chińska dyplomacja kosmiczna. Retrieved 22.05.2025 from https://ine.org.pl/chinska-dyplomacja-kosmiczna-otwarta-ale-czy-dla-wszystkich/
[5] Axiom. Retrieved 26.05.2025 from https://www.axiomspace.com/
[6] Politechnika Łódzka (2024). Kosmiczny absolwent. Sławosz Uznański. Retrieved 27.05.2025 from https://p.lodz.pl/uczelnia/aktualnosci/kosmiczny-absolwent-pl
[7] ESA (2024). Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski. Retrieved 26.05.2025 from https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Astronauts/Slawosz_Uznanski-Wisniewski
[8] Polish Space Agency (2024). Baza podmiotów polskiego sektora kosmicznego. Retrieved 26.05.2025 from https://polsa.gov.pl/o-katalogu/baza-podmiotow/
[9] SGH Warsaw School of Economics (2025). Rozmowy o kosmosie [6]. Polski sektor kosmiczny. Retrieved 28.05.2025 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQGvLK1CMOY&list=PLED2KqSSukba5-9DXeE2GvhzetRMh-gCo&index=6&ab_channel=SGHWarsawSchoolofEconomics
[10] Polsat (2025). “Dziejowa szansa dla nas w Polsce”. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski o locie w kosmos. Retrieved 28.05.2025 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmVuJPveQrY&ab_channel=polsatnews.pl
[11] Kanawka, K. & Kosmonauta.net (2025). Nowa data startu misji Ax-4. Retrieved 31.05.2025 from https://kosmonauta.net/2025/05/nowa-data-startu-misji-ax-4/
[12] Grabiański, R. & Urania (2025). Trwa kwarantanna astronautów misji Ax-4. Retrieved 31.05.2025 from https://www.urania.edu.pl/wiadomosci/trwa-kwarantanna-astronautow-misji-ax-4
[13] Rożek, T. & Nauka. To Lubię (2025). Dlaczego nie dowozimy? Retrieved 31.05.2025 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeHCM4eHsuw&ab_channel=Nauka.ToLubi%C4%99
Photos:
Pic. 1. Retrieved 31.05.2025 from https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-to-participate-in-next-private-astronaut-mission-teleconference/
Pic. 2. Retrieved 31.05.2025 from https://www.esa.int/Space_in_Member_States/Poland/Slawosz_Uznanski-Wisniewski
Fot. 3. K. Karwowski. Personal archive.
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