Tibor Kapu’s Space Mission Postponed Once Again

The Axiom-4 international space mission is scheduled to launch on June 10, at the earliest, at 8:22 a.m. local time (2:22 p.m. Central European Time) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to the International Space Station with Hungarian research astronaut Tibor Kapu on board, as announced at an online press conference on Tuesday. NASA revised the date for the second time. Originally, the crew was supposed to be launched into space on May 29, but then it was rescheduled for June 8.

At the press event attended by the crew members, Tibor Kapu said he considered it “an incredible honor” to represent Hungarians in space. “I am immensely grateful to you for all the support, love, and pride you have given me,” he said, addressing the Hungarian people. “It is my sincere wish that when the day of launch arrives, we pause for a moment and celebrate together all that we have achieved together. Together, because I am embarking on this journey with your dreams, your good wishes, and your efforts,” said the Hungarian research astronaut.

He emphasized that this mission is not only a step forward for Hungarians in the field of science and discovery, but also a leap forward in terms of national pride and inspiration, proving that dreams and dedication know no bounds. He highlighted that

he will conduct 25 experiments on the International Space Station (ISS), which were prepared by Hungary’s “brilliant minds.”

He also mentioned that NASA, SpaceX, Axiom Space, the European Space Agency in Germany, and JAXA in Japan participated in his training. He noted that he never thought that such a large part of the training would take place in water. “We escaped from a flooded helicopter, kayaked in the sea off Mexico, and jumped into icy water in Florida,” he detailed the training, adding that this taught them to remain calm and composed.

The #Ax4 crew is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on June 10 at 8:22 AM EDT from Launch Complex 39A at @NASAKennedy. Tune in for the launch broadcast starting at 6:15 AM EDT. pic.twitter.com/2ACocwFRSQ

— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) June 3, 2025

At Tuesday’s press event, they also unveiled a small plush swan named Joy that will signal to the crew when they have reached weightlessness. In this regard, Kapu said that his personal motto, which he learned during preparation, is that “a team is healthy when it enjoys what it does.” “We are focused and committed, but above all, we enjoy it,” he said, adding that happiness is also a sign of trust, flexibility, and friendship for him.

“Swans fly gracefully over Lake Balaton at home, and now it will fly a little higher,” he said of the stuffed animal. Responding to a question, he said that despite the sometimes exhausting training, he feels good, partly because his family is also in Florida and they can meet occasionally while complying with quarantine rules. He also revealed that

Bertalan Farkas, Hungary’s first astronaut, with whom he talked a lot during the preparation period, will be there in person at the launch.

Kapu revealed that he will take with him to the International Space Station the TV Maci plush (character from the 1960s, signaling the start of the evening children’s television program) dressed in a spacesuit, which also accompanied Farkas into space at the time. He will also take a Rubik’s cube, which he often plays with in quarantine. As he put it, the Rubik’s cube “embodies the ingenuity of Hungarians.” When asked what special foods they are taking with them, the Hungarian astronaut said that in addition to Stühmer’s newly developed “space chocolate,” he is also taking Erős Pista (popular chili sauce in Hungary) and Piros Arany (a paste made from peppers, typically used in sandwiches or as a condiment) with him into space.

The four-member crew will spend 14 days at the ISS, where they will conduct approximately 60 experiments and research projects from 31 countries.

Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Axiom Space