Private Astronauts Embark on Two-Week Mission to International Space Station
A few decades ago, the idea of private individuals traveling to the International Space Station (ISS) was nothing more than science fiction. However, fast forward to 2024, and we find ourselves witnessing a crew of four private astronauts on board the ISS. This team, led by Axiom Space, will spend approximately two weeks conducting experiments, engaging in commercial activities, and carrying out outreach tasks.
Founded in 2016 by Michael Suffredini and Kam Ghaffarian, Axiom Space aims to arrange private missions into space, primarily to the ISS. Additionally, they are developing spacesuits for NASA’s future missions to the Moon. With the ambitious goal of revealing space to as many humans as possible, Axiom Space is making significant strides in realizing their dreams.
On January 18th, four private astronauts were launched to the ISS on the Dragon spacecraft, propelled by the Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket. This private mission marks the third endeavor by Axiom Space, following successful missions in April 2022 and May 2023. The crew for this mission includes Commander Michael López-Alegría, Pilot Walter Villadei, and Mission Specialists Marcus Wandt and Alper Gezeravci.
Upon their arrival at the ISS on January 20th, the Dragon module autonomously docked with the Harmony module. As the hatch opens, the Axiom crew will be warmly welcomed by the Expedition 70 crew, which includes NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, Loral O’Hara, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, JAXA astronaut Furukawa Satoshi, and cosmonauts Konstantin Borisov, Oleg Kononenko, and Nikolai Chub.
The AX-3 mission is scheduled to depart from the ISS on February 3rd, weather permitting. After spending two weeks on board, the crew will return to Earth, touching down off the coast of Florida.
Axiom Space, in partnership with NASA, is making remarkable strides in opening up low Earth orbit to more and more people. In the 1950s and 1960s, the world witnessed the space race between America and Russia, as both nations vied to become the first to reach space and put a human on the Moon. Now, the landscape of space travel and exploration has transformed. Collaborations between major space organizations like NASA and private enterprises like Axiom are driving a thriving commercial space economy, which may finally open up space to all of humanity.
Source: NASA, Partners to Welcome Private Crew Aboard Space Station