The AP reports that the ISS welcomed the Axiom Space organized flight Monday, with the four passengers including two visitors from Saudi Arabia. The two Saudi visitors included the kingdom’s first female astronaut. The flight’s four passengers brought the space station’s total population to 11.
Full Story (Associated Press)
Tag: private mission to the ISS
Axiom Space’s Private Astronaut Mission Edges Closer to Liftoff
Aviation Week reports that preparations for Axiom Space’s “second four-person private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) cleared its May 15 flight readiness review and remains on track for a liftoff early next week from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.” The launch is currently scheduled for Sunday evening at 5:37 p.m. EST.
Full Story (Aviation Week)
AIAA Statement on the Axiom Mission 1 (AX-1) Launch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2022 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Executive Director Dan Dumbacher made the following statement:
“On behalf of the 30,000 professional and student members of AIAA, we congratulate the entire Axiom Mission 1 (AX-1) team on their successful launch today. Axiom, NASA, and SpaceX have introduced a new model for commercial space exploration, expanding access to low Earth orbit that in turn increases the scientific research opportunities on the International Space Station (ISS). We applaud this first private mission to the ISS, showing how NASA and private industry are working together to extend the human neighborhood into low Earth orbit in meaningful ways.
In addition to expanding commercial research opportunities in the ISS orbiting laboratory, the AX-1 mission adds more names to the growing list of astronauts due to commercial space activity. From entrepreneurs to philanthropists, we are seeing a new breed of explorer emerge in low Earth orbit. We are encouraged to see the space economy growing, as these innovators work to improve life on Earth and accelerate our off-world future. We look forward to following their progress.
We recognize the countless aerospace industry professionals involved in making today’s launch a success. We salute Axiom, NASA, and SpaceX, and their entire team, for helping shape the future of aerospace.”
Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell
About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
NASA Prepares for Ax-1 Crew Return, Crew-4 Launch
Space News reported that NASA “says it’s gearing up for a rapid-fire series of events on the International Space Station that includes the return of a private astronaut mission and the launch of a new long-duration crew of American and European astronauts.” Axiom Space’s Ax-1 mission “will conclude with an undocking scheduled for 10:35 a.m. Eastern April 19. That would lead to a splashdown off the Florida coast at 7:19 a.m. Eastern April 20.” Ax-1’s return on Wednesday “will allow NASA to proceed with the launch of the Crew-4 mission to the ISS as soon as April 23.”
Full Story (Space News)