A group of private spacefarers that includes one of NASA's most seasoned astronauts is waiting an extra 24 hours tomake a short trip up to the International Space Station. A ventureknown as Axiom Mission 4was due to get off the ground on the morning of Tuesday, June 10. That was before NASA announced that the mission's launch from Florida's Space Coast in Cape Canaveralwould be delayed yet againto wait out some bad weather. In the meantime, the seven astronauts already aboard the space station orbiting about 250 miles above Earth have been diligently preparing for the new arrivals. That crew, led byveteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, isnow due to get off the groundno earlier than Wednesday, June 11. Axiom Space, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is the company behind the mission, which is its latest in a series of humanspaceflightsin partnership with bothNASAandSpaceX– the commercial spaceflight company founded by billionaireElon Musk. The mission – also known as Ax-4 – represents the fourth time in about three years that a crew has ventured to the space station for a private two-week research mission. Here's everything to know about Axiom Space's fourthcrewed mission to the International Space Station. SpaceX news:Elon Musk hits back after Trump threatens SpaceX government contracts The crew members are due to undertake about 60 scientific experiments during their time aboard the International Space Station. The research was developed specifically to take place in microgravity on behalf of organizations around the world, according to Axiom Space. The Axiom missions are also aimed at advancing the company's goals of building a space station that will attach to the ISSbefore its planned 2030 retirement. The Axiom missionsbegan in 2022, with the most recent, Axiom Mission 3, taking place in January 2024. What also makes Ax-4 notable is that it is the first time in more than 40 years that India, Poland and Hungary have had a crew member from their respective nations on a government-sponsored spaceflight. The upcoming spaceflight is also each nation's first-ever mission to the space station. For 25 years,the International Space Stationhas been stationed in low-Earth orbit, typically about 250 miles high, where it has beenhome to astronauts from all over the world. The orbital laboratoryis operated through a global partnership of space agencies, including NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). More than 280 spacefarers from 23 countries have visited the International Space Station,including 169 from the United Statesalone, according to NASA. Bigger than a six-bedroom house, the outpost has six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym and a 360-degree view bay window. As of now,seven members of Expedition 73, including three Americans,are living aboard the ISS– conducting scientific research and working to maintain the station. The launchcould happen as early as8 a.m. ET Wednesday, June 11, from NASA's historic Launch Complex 39A at theKennedy Space Center. The Ax-4 creware due to ride a brand-newSpaceX Dragon spacecraftto orbit, which will get off the ground with the assistance of the company's two-stage Falcon 9 rocket. The Ax-4 crew and SpaceX teams completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of liftoff on Tuesdaypic.twitter.com/MEhuTdeuDf — SpaceX (@SpaceX)June 8, 2025 The launch wasdelayed Monday, June 9for the third time as mission operators continue to plan around inclement weather forecasted along the Dragon's flight path. Axiom Space had originally been working toward a May 29 launch before takeoff was first pushed to June 8 as part of adjustments to the space station's schedule. The launch wasthen bumped againto June 10 before NASA announced it would be delayed for another 24 hours. Once the Dragon separates from the Falcon 9 following liftoff, the capsule will continue its independent journey to the orbital outpost. Axiom-4 mission:How to watch livestream of crewed SpaceX rocket launch from Florida Those watching from homewill have plenty of optionsto catch a livestream of the spaceflight. Both SpaceXand Axiom Spacewill provide a webcast, with coverage beginning about two hours before the launch. SpaceX's webcast will be available on its websitehere, and onsocial media site X. NASA willjoin coverageof the launch at 7:05 a.m. ET June 11 on itsNASA+ streaming service. Once the Dragon carrying the crew reaches orbit, live coverage will end beforeresumingaround 10:30 a.m. ET Thursday, June 12 as the spacecraft approaches the International Space Station. The spacecraft isexpected to dockby 12:30 p.m. ET at the station's Harmony module, after which the hatches between the spacecraft and the module will open to allow the crew to enter the ISS. Here's a look at the four international astronauts crewing Ax-4: CommanderPeggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space who previously commanded Ax-2 PilotShubhanshu Shukla, an astronaut with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Mission specialistSławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a scientist and engineer from Poland who is part of the European Space Agency's reserve astronaut class Mission specialistTibor Kapu, a mechanical engineer from Hungary The Ax-4 crew members and their Dragon spacecraft are expected to be docked at the space station forup to 14 days. Though their exact return date remains unclear, they would eventually depart the station on the Dragon for a water landing off thecoast of California, where SpaceXhas recently moved its recovery operations. Contributing:Brooke Edwards, FLORIDA TODAY Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:SpaceX Axiom 4 taking astronauts to space station: When is launch?