Kapu Tibor’s Spaceflight Delayed Again — TV Teddy Bear and Erős Pista Join the Journey

Kapu Tibor’s Spaceflight Delayed Again — TV Teddy Bear and Erős Pista Join the Journey

The crew is already preparing in pre-launch quarantine. Hungarian astronaut Kapu Tibor will be bringing along Erős Pista chili paste, a classic Hungarian TV teddy bear, and a Rubik’s Cube on his space mission. With a one-day delay, the Axiom–4 mission is now scheduled to launch on June 10, at 2:22 PM Hungarian time, according to the latest briefing by Axiom Space during Tuesday’s press conference. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying astronauts from the United States, India, Poland, and Hungary, will reach low Earth orbit after a 28-hour journey and is expected to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) on June 11, at 6:30 PM.

The crew — composed of Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India), Sławosz Uznanski-Wiśniewski (Poland), and Kapu Tibor (Hungary) — will spend 14 days aboard the ISS, where they will conduct a record number of scientific and technical experiments as part of the Axiom mission. The astronauts shared that their pre-launch quarantine is being spent on a strict schedule similar to the one they will follow in space. Commander Peggy Whitson mentioned that launch day will leave them no personal free time — it will be a "hurry up and wait" day, filled with tightly scheduled tasks and periods of waiting.
She also noted that they had completed a full dress rehearsal two days prior, so everything will feel familiar when the big day arrives. Whitson praised the team’s spirit, saying they’ve formed a very enthusiastic, cohesive, and cheerful group. Regarding Kapu Tibor, she highlighted his role in bringing the team together with his infectious enthusiasm. The other astronauts echoed this sentiment, expressing their gratitude to have Peggy Whitson as their commander.

Each astronaut also greeted their fellow countrymen in their native languages:
"Dear Hungarians, 45 years after Bertalan Farkas’s mission, I have the honor of representing you in space. On launch day, I hope we can all take a moment to reflect on our shared achievements," said Kapu Tibor.

As all the astronauts (except for Commander Whitson) are the second representatives of their respective countries to travel to space, they each reflected on their connection to their pioneering predecessors:
Shubhanshu Shukla shared that he speaks daily with Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut, who unfortunately won’t be present at the launch. Sławosz Uznanski expressed his deep gratitude to the late Mirosław Hermaszewski, who personally supported him during his astronaut training. Uznanski will also carry with him a Polish flag once worn by Hermaszewski.

Kapu Tibor said he had received a wealth of advice from Bertalan Farkas, who will attend the launch in person. Among Tibor’s personal items will be the iconic Hungarian TV teddy bear ("Tévémaci") once flown into space by Farkas — the bear, dressed in a spacesuit, will take up nearly half of his personal luggage, and Tibor is proud to bring it along.

The astronauts also introduced their fifth special crew member — a plush swan named Joy, an idea proposed by Tibor. The swan serves as the zero-gravity indicator: once it begins to float, the astronauts will know they’ve reached microgravity. The swan carries symbolic meaning for each nation: in India, it represents purity and wisdom; in Poland, perseverance; and in Hungary, it is admired for its graceful and elegant movements.

Commander Whitson revealed that the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, making its first flight in this mission, has not yet been given a name — it will be announced after reaching orbit. She hinted that the name will have a connection to the plush swan.

Commenting on recent news about NASA budget cuts, Whitson said this would increase the importance of Axiom Space’s role and that they are ready to help fill any gaps in space operations.

Regarding Hungarian national foods, Kapu Tibor shared that he will be bringing specially prepared Stühmer chocolate, adapted to NASA’s food standards, as well as Erős Pista chili paste and Piros Arany ("Red Gold") paprika paste — flavors that astronauts tend to crave in space, where stronger tastes are especially welcome.

Kapu also said he has been spending his quarantine time playing guitar and practicing with a Rubik’s Cube, which he will also take into space as a symbol of Hungarian creativity and ingenuity.

The second Hungarian astronaut has also spoken with both Bertalan Farkas and Charles Simonyi, who offered him some unexpected advice: "They all told me: just be calm, and try to fully experience every moment of your journey to space."