Axiom Ax-4, Ignis mission patch, 2025

ESA project astronaut Sławosz Uznański's first mission to space, Ignis, is named after the Latin word for ‘fire,’ symbolising the spark igniting a new era in Poland’s space endeavours. Sławosz is scheduled to fly to the International Space Station on the 14-day Axiom mission 4 (Ax-4) in 2025, and will serve as a mission specialist under the command of Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. This flight will make Sławosz the second Pole in space, and the first to go to the International Space Station. The assigned crew also includes pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India and mission specialist Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

The central motif of the patch features an eagle – a reference to the emblem of Poland – in white and red, reflecting the colours and design of the Polish national flag. Its tail gracefully evokes a flame, while its outstretched wings trace the contours of the Orla Perć mountain range in the Polish Tatra Mountains.

Within the mission’s name, the second ‘i’ takes the form of the International Space Station. Above it, stars converge to form the Scutum constellation, paying homage to astronomer Johannes Hevelius (1611-87), who was born in the Polish city of Gdańsk. Finally, a silver line represents the horizon, signifying the dawn of a new era in space exploration.

This design was created by ESA graphic designer Federica Mezzo.