Peggy Whitson, the seasoned space veteran, is set to lead an international crew of rookie astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary on the Ax-4 mission to the ISS, launching June 24, 2025.

As Whitson prepares to usher in a new era of space exploration by guiding first-timers on their maiden voyages, the Ax-4 mission promises not just technological advancements but also a hefty dose of rookie jitters. Slated for a launch at 2:31 a.m. EDT, these four explorers will spend two weeks conducting scientific research aboard the ISS—a task that may be complicated by the inevitable rookie question: 'Are we there yet?'

The crew of the Ax-4 mission consists of Whitson, along with Shubhanshu Shukla from India, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. It marks a significant milestone: the first spaceflight for each of the three newcomers. Shukla has reportedly been practicing his zero-gravity spins since he was a child, while Uznański-Wiśniewski has shown an alarming enthusiasm for floating food. Kapu's application to space travel mostly hinged on the belief that there’s less traffic up there, which, to be fair, is a solid argument for any commuter.

Whitson, who boasts an impressive 675 days in space, is no stranger to the difficulties of space travel. She remains the record-holder for U.S. astronauts in terms of time spent in the great beyond, a testament to her resilience—or perhaps her superb collection of space pajamas. In her pre-mission briefing, Whitson expressed excitement about guiding her rookie compatriots, stating, “I can’t wait to show them that space is much more fun than sleeping in.”

The Ax-4 mission is organized by Axiom Space, using SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket—both of which have certainly proven their reliability despite the occasional hiccup. In fact, the mission faced delays primarily due to an oxygen leak in the Falcon 9's first stage, alongside the always-fun concern of air leaks in the ISS. One can only imagine the tense moments when team members paused to check their breathing masks while checking each other for significant gaps in space suits.

After decades of waiting, this mission also represents a return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary. It's a bittersweet return as the last astronauts from these countries floated into space over 40 years ago, likely while their families debated whether a cold dinner was better than the worries of wondering when they’d return. Fast forward to 2025, and these countries are back with aspirations to boldly go… and perhaps earn some hearty bragging rights over who is bringing the best snacks.

Once they launch, the Ax-4 crew will embark on a 28-hour journey to the ISS, with expectations to dock Thursday morning. Presumably, Whitson will lead the charge in letting them know that any failure to correctly pronounce 'International Space Station' will preclude them from entering, just to make sure they grasp the seriousness of the interstellar situation. After all, nothing says ‘serious business’ like a flying laboratory in the vast unknown.

During their 14-day stay on the ISS, the crew will delve into scientific research involving data evaluation from experiments and technology demonstrations conducted with researchers from an impressive 31 countries. By the end of the mission, they might have discovered whether space chocolate actually tastes better in a vacuum, or if the critical mass of floating particles can lead to new cosmic gourmet delights. Perhaps they’ll even stumble upon the answer to questions like 'What happens if you drop a spatula in zero gravity?'

As a veteran, Whitson is also duty-bound to ensure that every rookie has the right guidance for their space adventure. The mission,” she noted with a twinkle in her eye, “is set to redefine the boundaries of human experience. And all they need is a sense of humor and an emergency air supply.

While up there, it's also hoped that Shukla, Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Kapu will ask profound questions, like the age-old inquiry, 'How many astronauts does it take to change a lightbulb in space?' The ensemble crew is prepared for profound discussions—probably about the merits of bottled water versus filtering it through a sock for hydration, while also pondering why spicy snacks might have been a questionable choice in zero gravity.

All jokes aside, the Ax-4 mission stands on the brink of participating in a unique era of private astronaut flights, which, promisingly or not, seems to be the future of space exploration. Whitson’s leadership may be the most reassuring aspect, as she brings a wealth of experience and a few tried-and-true relaxation exercises that you'll find in every spaceflight manual, from yoga to deep breathing at critical moments coupled with humor galore.

So here's to the Ax-4 mission: the crew that dares to journey beyond our blue planet, armed with little more than untested equipment, the excitement of uncharted territory, and Whitson's unrivaled knowledge of which buttons to press and which switches to avoid. Whatever awaits them in space, it’s clear that this international team will likely make more headlines than they bargained for, all while navigating the cosmos—one zero-gravity giggle at a time.