Axiom Space Launches Fourth ISS Mission Marking Commercial Space Milestone

Axiom Space is preparing to launch its fourth mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on June 10, a milestone CEO Tejpaul Bhatia describes as a “victory lap.” This mission, Ax-4, is notable for being the company’s second fully national mission, with all astronauts representing national governments—specifically India, Poland, and Hungary. Each of these countries will have an astronaut aboard, marking a significant return to human spaceflight for them.

Unlike its previous missions, Ax-4 is expected to be Axiom Space’s first break-even mission after the company absorbed losses on its initial three flights. However, Bhatia emphasizes that these ISS missions are not the company’s long-term business model. Instead, Axiom Space aims to develop commercial modules that will eventually detach from the ISS to form a free-flying commercial space station, known as the Axiom Station.

These early missions serve multiple purposes: they generate revenue, demonstrate the growing demand for commercial spaceflight, and create inspirational “Apollo moments” for client countries. Bhatia highlights how this mission symbolizes the transition from the original Space Race to a new era driven by commercial enterprises and international collaboration.

Axiom Space’s missions rely on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft to ferry astronauts to the ISS. The company acts as a “marketplace integrator and broker,” coordinating complex missions by bringing together various partners. Bhatia foresees vast opportunities in managing this commercial spaceflight marketplace, stressing that no single country can achieve multi-planetary goals alone.

Despite recent political tensions affecting the commercial space sector, Bhatia remains optimistic. He believes government investment has already paved the way for space exploration, and now entrepreneurs will build on these platforms to advance human presence beyond Earth.

Bhatia, who recently became CEO after serving as chief revenue officer, brings a fresh perspective from his background at Google Cloud. His lifelong fascination with space fuels his vision for Axiom Space’s future, including his personal hope to travel to space one day.