NASA and its global partners approved team members for Axiom Spaces very first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. The Ax-1 team will fly on Crew Dragon Endeavour to and from the area station.
Axiom Space astronauts Michael López-Alegría, Larry Connor, Mark Pathy, and Eytan Stibbe are prime team members of the Ax-1 objective. López-Alegría, who was born in Spain, raised in California, and a former NASA astronaut, will serve as the objective leader. Connor, of Dayton, Ohio, will function as pilot. Pathy, from Canada, and Stibbe, from Israel, will be mission experts. The quartet is arranged to invest eight days aboard the orbiting laboratory carrying out science, education, and business activities before their go back to Earth.
NASA and its international partners approved crew members for Axiom Spaces first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. The Ax-1 team will fly on Crew Dragon Endeavour to and from the space station. Axiom Space astronauts Michael López-Alegría, Larry Connor, Mark Pathy, and Eytan Stibbe are prime team members of the Ax-1 mission. “As the commander, I am proud of the work these team members have actually put in to be ready to carry out significant work on the International Space Station and thankful to see them satisfy the requirements needed of all astronauts flying to station given that Expedition 1. In this illustration, a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft approaches the International Space Station for docking.
Axiom Mission 1 astronauts, Larry Connor, left, Michael López-Alegría, Mark Pathy, and Eytan Stibbe, right. The astronauts cleared medical evaluations and are approved by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel. Credit: Axiom Space
” This represents another significant turning point in our efforts to produce a low-Earth orbit economy,” said Phil McAlister, director of business spaceflight at NASA. “I wish these Axiom crew members safe journeys, and I hope they discover their time in area productive and enjoyable.”
Proposed mission activities are still under review and will be authorized prior to flight. Axiom formerly revealed a microgravity research portfolio the Ax-1 team plans to carry out in orbit in partnership with a variety of organizations in the world. This research study is sponsored by the ISS U.S. National Laboratory.
” The goal for the Ax-1 team is to set a standard for all future private astronaut objectives in terms of our preparation and professionalism,” López-Alegría stated. “As the leader, I take pride in the work these crew members have actually put in to be ready to perform meaningful work on the International Space Station and happy to see them fulfill the standards needed of all astronauts flying to station since Expedition 1. Ax-1 is focused on a huge amount of science and outreach activities, and we look forward now to completing that flight program.”
In this illustration, a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft approaches the International Space Station for docking. The Ax-1 team will fly on the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour. Credit: NASA/SpaceX
The Ax-1 crew has actually been training at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston and other NASA centers since August 2021 to acquaint themselves with station systems, scientific facilities, and emergency treatments. The crew likewise has actually been training with NASAs spaceport station worldwide partners at ESA (European Space Agency), as well as with launch professional SpaceX at its facilities in Hawthorne, California, and at other locations in preparation for the objective.
NASA and Axiom objective operations groups began joint simulations in December for orientation with the dynamic stages of the personal astronauts flight to and from the area station. Joint simulations will continue in preparation for launch.
NASA continues to make rapid development in its efforts to construct a robust low-Earth orbit economy. The company recently announced its choice of Axiom Space to start negotiations for the second personal astronaut objective. NASA also just recently revealed its selection of companies to develop styles of spaceport station and other business destinations in low-Earth orbit.
Prior to these new awards, NASA selected Axiom Space in January 2020 to develop and establish business modules to connect to the station. Axiom just recently finished the preliminary design review of two modules in addition to the crucial style evaluation of the modules primary structure with NASA participation. Flight hardware for the very first Axiom module is currently undergoing fabrication.
For more than 21 years, NASA has actually supported a continuous U.S. human presence in low-Earth orbit aboard the spaceport station. The agencys objective is to make it possible for a strong, business marketplace in low-Earth orbit with personal industry where NASA is one of numerous customers. This technique will supply services the government requires at a lower expense, making it possible for the firm to focus on its Artemis objectives to the Moon in preparation for Mars while continuing to use low-Earth orbit as a training and proving ground for those deep area objectives.
Discover the Ax-1 objective at: https://www.axiomspace.com/ax1