Watch the Launch of the Polish Astronaut on 11 June! [live broadcast]
Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski – an astronaut of the ESA project – will depart for the International Space Station on the IGNIS mission, as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) flight on 11 June. The mission, originally scheduled for 10 June, was postponed at the last minute due to unfavourable weather conditions. The launch date may be rescheduled again, as final checks of the spacecraft are still being conducted.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch from Pad 39A in Florida (NASA Kennedy Space Center) at 14:00 Polish time (08:00 local time in Florida). Dr Uznański-Wiśniewski will serve as a mission specialist aboard the Dragon capsule. Accompanying him into space will be: Shubhanshu Shukla (India), Tibor Kapu (Hungary), and the mission commander, American astronaut Peggy Whitson.
The University of Wrocław has been selected by the Polish Space Agency (POLSA) as one of two universities in Poland to conduct a live connection with the International Space Station (ISS) during the mission of our astronaut. This organised, closed event will feature lectures and educational activities for invited primary schools, and will include a 10-minute live connection with the ISS during which pupils and students will ask questions to the Polish astronaut. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, 18 June, although the date may change due to the complex nature of the mission.
The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest man-made object in Earth’s orbit. For over two decades, it has served as an advanced research laboratory where astronauts from around the world conduct experiments in physics, biology, medicine, and engineering – experiments that would be impossible to perform on Earth. The ISS symbolises global scientific and technological cooperation and is a joint venture involving NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, JAXA, and CSA, among others.
The IGNIS mission is one of the upcoming European crewed missions. It is a project with both Polish and European significance. Initiated and funded by Poland, its implementation is carried out in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the American company Axiom Space. The mission aims to develop advanced space technologies and conduct key scientific research. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski will take part in a series of experiments and educational activities to familiarise the public with the work of astronauts and the importance of space exploration.
The University of Wrocław considers its participation in this event an honour and a confirmation of its growing role in the national and international educational and scientific landscape. The second university selected by POLSA to host a live ISS connection is Rzeszów University of Technology.
Watch the mission launch live
See the pre-launch preparations
More about the IGNIS mission
Polish Space Agency website
Date of publication: 10.06.2025
Added by: E.K.
