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Tibor Kapu launches to the International Space Station
June 25, 2025
On June 25 at 8:31 a.m. CET, Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu launched to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission. The launch took place from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A key member of the program is Dr. Ádám Schlégl, assistant professor and clinical specialist at University of Pécs Clinical Centre Department of Orthopaedics. As head of biomedical experiments within the HUNOR program's R&D division, he supports the astronauts throughout the planned two-week mission.
The four-member crew of the commercial Axiom-4 mission launched aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, carried into orbit by a Falcon 9 launch vehicle.
The mission is part of the shift toward commercial spaceflight and is being carried out through a collaboration between Axiom Space, SpaceX, and NASA.
The Ax-4 mission’s Dragon spacecraft, designated C213, launched from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center. The Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket placed it into low Earth orbit, where it will dock with the ISS at the Harmony (Node 2) module. The mission is scheduled to last 14 days.
The mission commander, 65-year-old American astronaut Peggy Whitson of Axiom Space, is embarking on her fifth spaceflight. For the remaining crew members, this marks their first journey to space. Indian pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (40) represents the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO); Polish mission specialist S³awosz Uznañski-Wi¶niewski (41) represents a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Polish Space Agency; while Hungarian mission specialist Tibor Kapu (34) is flying on behalf of the HUNOR (HUNgarian to ORbit) astronaut program.
Research from Pécs abroad the ISS
Dr. Ádám Schlégl, assistant professor and clinical specialist at University of Pécs Clinical Centre Department of Orthopaedics, is a key member of the HUNOR program. He completed both his medical studies and PhD research at the University of Pécs. In recent years, he has specialized in tumor surgery and is a dedicated university instructor. He is also a lifelong martial artist and a second-dan black belt in Kyokushin karate. He was one of four Hungarian candidates selected during a rigorous selection process, from which Tibor Kapu was ultimately chosen as primary astronaut and Gyula Cserényi as reserve. Dr. Schlégl remains an integral part of the mission as the lead for biomedical research at HUNOR, supporting astronauts during the mission’s scientific activities.
During his stay aboard the ISS, Tibor Kapu will conduct experiments linked to Hungarian institutions, including universities, research groups, and companies. Many of these experiments are tied to the University of Pécs, particularly the Medical School and the PTE 3D Printing and Visualization Centre. According to the faculty’s website, the University of Pécs Medical School is contributing three independent experiments and participating in two additional ones through consortium partnerships.
45 years after Bertalan Farkas
Hungary is sending its second astronaut into space as part of this mission, but this marks the first time a Hungarian astronaut has reached the ISS, which has been continuously inhabited since 1998. The first Hungarian in space, Bertalan Farkas, flew in 1980 as part of the Soviet Intercosmos program, visiting the Salyut 6 space station.
The four-person Ax-4 crew will carry out nearly 60 scientific experiments from 31 countries, underscoring the mission’s global importance and collaborative nature in advancing microgravity research in low Earth orbit (LEO). The number of experiments sets a new record for Axiom Space missions conducted aboard the ISS. The team will conduct studies across various fields, including medicine, cancer, and diabetes research.
The HUNOR program will conduct 25 experiments and scientific projects. These aim to expand our knowledge of space and its effects on the human body and on materials.
According to HUNOR, the rocket experiences its peak mechanical stress approximately one minute after liftoff. Stage separation of the first booster occurs around 2 minutes and 30 seconds into flight, followed by ignition of the second stage engine.
Typically, the Dragon spacecraft takes 1–2 days to reach the ISS, where it will perform a series of fine maneuvers before docking. (The Axiom-4 mission is expected to dock with the station on the morning of June 26 at approximately 1:00 p.m. CET)
The mission launch was postponed multiple times, with the last scheduled launch window originally set for early Sunday morning.
Source:
MTI/UPMS
Photos:
NASA/Nemzeti Archívum/MTI