Mission IGNIS
Update from the Ax‑4 / IGNIS mission: days 14 and 15
9 Jul 2025
The Ax-4 crew maintains their momentum with intensive experiments, educational meetings, and... a day off in zero gravity.
8 July – Education and Experiments
The fourteenth day of the Ax‑4 mission was marked by educational activities and further scientific research. A key moment was the connection of Sławosz Uznański - Wiśniewski with the youth from the Centrum Nauki Kopernik in Warsaw. As part of the last planned meeting of the educational project “Ask the Astronaut,” the children asked questions about daily life on the ISS, education, the challenges of weightlessness… and even the taste of chocolate in space.
Sławosz replied that the chocolate tastes great, although taste and smell are somewhat dulled by the specifics of microgravity, and he misses fresh fruits and vegetables the most. He also demonstrated three experiments chosen by the children: with water in a towel, foam from shampoo, and the diffusion of coffee in water — showing how fluids behave in a weightless state.
During the day, the Polish astronaut continued the implementation of Polish experiments of the IGNIS mission, including work on the brain–computer interface, nanomaterials, and EEG Neurofeedback, as well as testing systems for measuring stress and psychophysiology in space. The achievement status of Polish mission objectives reached an impressive 87%.
In the evening, the crew participated in an official scientific summary (“Science Briefing”), where they presented the results of their research and observations after more than two weeks on the ISS.
9 July – public holiday
The fifteenth day of the mission in orbit has been scheduled as a rest day from compulsory experiments. It is a time for recuperation, enjoying views of Earth from the Cupola, and gradually preparing for return procedures. According to unofficial sources from ESA, the return of the crew to Earth will be delayed, with the planned undocking of Dragon from the ISS now expected to occur on Monday, 14 July, a few days later than initially planned.
The delay is due to the need to maintain the current orientation of the ISS during the ongoing "space polar day" — for 24 hours a day, the ISS remains in full sunlight, necessitating a special configuration of cooling and stabilization systems. Only after this phenomenon concludes can the station change orientation needed for the safe detachment of the Crew Dragon capsule.
What's next?
In the coming days, the crew will complete the final experiments planned for the mission, and further photography sessions of Earth and educational broadcasts are scheduled for Friday or Saturday. The return to Earth will likely occur after the weekend.
Key events of recent days:
Educational meeting with Centrum Nauki Kopernik — answering questions from the youth.
Completion of over 87% of Polish experiments as part of the IGNIS mission.
Official presentation of photos of the Złote Serduszko WOŚP on the ISS.
Announcement of the return delay to Earth to 14 July due to the space polar day.
The Ax‑4 crew is approaching the end of their mission on the ISS, and each day brings new data, inspirations, and emotions — both in space and on Earth.
Read more
Farewell ceremony of the Ax‑4 crew on the ISS – watch live!
Read more
Farewell ceremony of the Ax‑4 crew on the ISS – watch live!
Read more
Farewell ceremony of the Ax‑4 crew on the ISS – watch live!
Read more
14 July: watch the live return of the Ax‑4 mission on our website!
Read more
14 July: watch the live return of the Ax‑4 mission on our website!
Read more
14 July: watch the live return of the Ax‑4 mission on our website!
Education
We educate, inspire, and discover
Our mission is to inspire and educate – we believe that the future begins with knowledge. We create an educational space for those who aspire to reach higher.
Education
We educate, inspire, and discover
Our mission is to inspire and educate – we believe that the future begins with knowledge. We create an educational space for those who aspire to reach higher.
Education
We educate, inspire, and discover
Our mission is to inspire and educate – we believe that the future begins with knowledge. We create an educational space for those who aspire to reach higher.
Mission IGNIS
Update from the Ax‑4 / IGNIS mission: days 14 and 15
9 Jul 2025
The Ax-4 crew maintains their momentum with intensive experiments, educational meetings, and... a day off in zero gravity.
8 July – Education and Experiments
The fourteenth day of the Ax‑4 mission was marked by educational activities and further scientific research. A key moment was the connection of Sławosz Uznański - Wiśniewski with the youth from the Centrum Nauki Kopernik in Warsaw. As part of the last planned meeting of the educational project “Ask the Astronaut,” the children asked questions about daily life on the ISS, education, the challenges of weightlessness… and even the taste of chocolate in space.
Sławosz replied that the chocolate tastes great, although taste and smell are somewhat dulled by the specifics of microgravity, and he misses fresh fruits and vegetables the most. He also demonstrated three experiments chosen by the children: with water in a towel, foam from shampoo, and the diffusion of coffee in water — showing how fluids behave in a weightless state.
During the day, the Polish astronaut continued the implementation of Polish experiments of the IGNIS mission, including work on the brain–computer interface, nanomaterials, and EEG Neurofeedback, as well as testing systems for measuring stress and psychophysiology in space. The achievement status of Polish mission objectives reached an impressive 87%.
In the evening, the crew participated in an official scientific summary (“Science Briefing”), where they presented the results of their research and observations after more than two weeks on the ISS.
9 July – public holiday
The fifteenth day of the mission in orbit has been scheduled as a rest day from compulsory experiments. It is a time for recuperation, enjoying views of Earth from the Cupola, and gradually preparing for return procedures. According to unofficial sources from ESA, the return of the crew to Earth will be delayed, with the planned undocking of Dragon from the ISS now expected to occur on Monday, 14 July, a few days later than initially planned.
The delay is due to the need to maintain the current orientation of the ISS during the ongoing "space polar day" — for 24 hours a day, the ISS remains in full sunlight, necessitating a special configuration of cooling and stabilization systems. Only after this phenomenon concludes can the station change orientation needed for the safe detachment of the Crew Dragon capsule.
What's next?
In the coming days, the crew will complete the final experiments planned for the mission, and further photography sessions of Earth and educational broadcasts are scheduled for Friday or Saturday. The return to Earth will likely occur after the weekend.
Key events of recent days:
Educational meeting with Centrum Nauki Kopernik — answering questions from the youth.
Completion of over 87% of Polish experiments as part of the IGNIS mission.
Official presentation of photos of the Złote Serduszko WOŚP on the ISS.
Announcement of the return delay to Earth to 14 July due to the space polar day.
The Ax‑4 crew is approaching the end of their mission on the ISS, and each day brings new data, inspirations, and emotions — both in space and on Earth.
Read more
Farewell ceremony of the Ax‑4 crew on the ISS – watch live!
Read more
Farewell ceremony of the Ax‑4 crew on the ISS – watch live!
Read more
Farewell ceremony of the Ax‑4 crew on the ISS – watch live!
Read more
14 July: watch the live return of the Ax‑4 mission on our website!
Read more
14 July: watch the live return of the Ax‑4 mission on our website!
Read more
14 July: watch the live return of the Ax‑4 mission on our website!
Education
We educate, inspire, and discover
Our mission is to inspire and educate – we believe that the future begins with knowledge. We create an educational space for those who aspire to reach higher.
Education
We educate, inspire, and discover
Our mission is to inspire and educate – we believe that the future begins with knowledge. We create an educational space for those who aspire to reach higher.
Education
We educate, inspire, and discover
Our mission is to inspire and educate – we believe that the future begins with knowledge. We create an educational space for those who aspire to reach higher.