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Forum:	Commercial Space - Military Space
Topic:	Axiom Space Ax-3 private mission to ISS

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<table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="600"><TR><td bgcolor="#000000"><TABLE BORDER=0 cellpadding=4 border=0 cellspacing=1 WIDTH="100%"><TR bgcolor="#660000"><TD COLSPAN=2><CENTER>T O P I C     R E V I E W</CENTER></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#494949"><TD valign=top>Robert Pearlman</TD><TD>NASA release <blockquote>NASA Selects Axiom Space for Third Private Astronaut Station MissionNASA and Axiom Space have signed a mission order for the third private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, targeted to launch no earlier than November 2023 from the agency's NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida."The diversity of currently available commercial orbital human spaceflight opportunities is truly astounding. NASA's commercial crew flights to the space station for our government astronauts paved the way for fully private missions to space like Inspiration4 and Polaris as well as private astronaut missions to the orbiting laboratory like the one we are announcing today," said Phil McAlister, director of commercial space at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "We are starting to see the incorporation of space into our economic sphere, and it is going to revolutionize the way people see, use, and experience space." Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) is expected to spend 14 days docked to the space station. A specific launch date is dependent on spacecraft traffic to the space station and in-orbit activity planning and constraints. NASA and Axiom Space mission planners will coordinate in-orbit activities for the private astronauts to conduct in coordination with space station crew members and flight controllers on the ground."Axiom Space's selection to lead the next private astronaut mission to the International Space Station enables us to continue expanding access to nations, academia, commercial entities, and emerging industries to research, test, and demonstrate new technologies in microgravity," said Michael Suffredini, CEO and president of Axiom Space. "As NASA's focus shifts back to the Moon and on to Mars, we are committed to transforming low-Earth orbit into a global space marketplace, where access to space moves beyond the partners of the space station to nations, institutions and individuals with new ideas fueling a thriving human economy beyond Earth."Axiom Space will submit four proposed crew members and two back up crew for the Ax-3 mission to the station's Multilateral Crew Operations Panel for review. NASA is requiring all private astronaut mission providers to select a previously flown NASA astronaut as the spacecraft commander. Following review and approval from NASA and its international partners, the prime crew members for the mission will be named.The Ax-3 crew members will train for their flight with NASA, international partners, and SpaceX, which Axiom Space has contracted as launch provider for transportation to and from the space station and to familiarize the private astronauts with systems, procedures, and emergency preparedness for the space station and the Dragon spacecraft. Based on current mission planning, team crew training is scheduled to begin this spring.Axiom Space is obtaining NASA services to conduct the mission via both the mission specific order and Reimbursable Space Act Agreements.Through the mission specific order, Axiom Space is obtaining services from NASA such as crew supplies, cargo delivery to space, storage, and other in-orbit resources for daily use. The order also accommodates up to an additional contingency week aboard the space station. This mission is subject to NASA's pricing policy for the services the agency is providing to Axiom Space for in-orbit activities that are above space station baseline capabilities.The order also identifies capabilities NASA may obtain from Axiom Space, including the return of scientific samples that must be kept cold in transit to and from Earth, return cargo capability, and the capability to use the private astronaut mission commander's time during the docked mission to complete NASA science or perform tasks for NASA.Through Reimbursable Space Act Agreements, Axiom Space will reimburse NASA for services to enable the mission, such as training for crew members and use of facilities at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In addition, SpaceX has a Reimbursable Space Act Agreement with Kennedy for launch services.NASA made the selection for the third private astronaut mission from proposals received in response to its September 2022 NASA Research Announcement and evaluated the mission proposals based on the provider's ability to execute a mission successfully, NASA's ability to support the proposed mission, and the mission's contribution to the agency's goal of low-Earth orbit commercialization. NASA also solicited proposals for a fourth private astronaut mission opportunity in 2024 and will announce the mission after successful completion of negotiations results in an award.</blockquote></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#333333"><TD valign=top>Robert Pearlman</TD><TD>Axiom Space release <blockquote>Axiom Space Announces Astronauts for Third Mission to ISSFirst all-European commercial astronaut mission to launch no earlier than January 2024Today, Axiom Space announced the full crew complement for its third mission, Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), to the International Space Station (ISS), after receiving NASA and ISS-partner approval for the four-person, multi-national team to travel to the orbiting laboratory no earlier than January 2024.<center><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/review/axiom_space_ax3_crew01-lg.jpg" target="AirLock"><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/review/axiom_space_ax3_crew01.jpg" width="400" height="225" border="0"></a></center>Above: Ax-3 Commander Michael López-Alegría (left), Pilot Walter Villadei, Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravcı, and Mission Specialist Marcus Wandt. Ax-3 will be the first all-European commercial astronaut mission to launch to the ISS – redefining the pathway to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and helping chart a course toward Axiom Station, the world's first commercial space station. In an historic venture, three countries – Italy, Türkiye, and Sweden through the European Space Agency (ESA) – have united for Ax-3, with Axiom Space's Chief Astronaut and Commander Michael López-Alegría leading the commercial mission, representing both the U.S. and Spain as a dual-citizen. The Ax-3 pilot is Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei, and the two mission specialists are Alper Gezeravcı of Türkiye and ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt of Sweden. Villadei, Gezeravcı, and Wandt have extensive flight crew experience and have all served in their nation's air forces.<center><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/review/axiom_space_ax3_crew02-lg.jpg" target="AirLock"><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/review/axiom_space_ax3_crew02.jpg" width="400" height="239" border="0"></a></center>"It is an honor to command another private astronaut mission with Axiom Space and lead a dynamic crew of professional operators representing several nations across one region of the world," said López-Alegría, former NASA astronaut and Ax-1 commander. "This crew is shifting the paradigm of how governments and space agencies access and reap the benefits of microgravity. The Ax-3 mission will be transformational as it fosters partnerships outside the construct of the ISS and positions European nations as pioneers of the emerging commercial space industry. I look forward to working with this team and with all those who will support our mission on the ground, on orbit, and around the world." As part of Ax-3, Türkiye is sending its first astronaut to space in a larger effort to expand the nation's space exploration capabilities and establish a national human spaceflight program. Ax-3 will also be the first commercial spaceflight mission for an ESA-sponsored astronaut. For Italy, the Ax-3 mission represents a whole-of-country effort to foster its endeavor for safe, secure, and effective access to space. <center><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/review/axiom_space_ax3_crew03-lg.jpg" target="AirLock"><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/review/axiom_space_ax3_crew03.jpg" width="400" height="267" border="0"></a></center>A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Ax-3 crew aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the ISS from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Once docked, the Ax-3 astronauts plan to spend up to 14 days on board implementing a full mission comprised of microgravity research, educational outreach, and commercial activities.</blockquote></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#494949"><TD valign=top>Robert Pearlman</TD><TD>Axiom Space release <blockquote>Ax-3 Mission to Expand Government-Sponsored Research in Low-Earth OrbitAxiom Space announced today further details on the groundbreaking science research and technology demonstrations planned for the upcoming Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) to the International Space Station (ISS). The Ax-3 crewmembers will represent their nations and perform scientific experiments and demonstrations in low-Earth orbit (LEO) that are of high national importance. Axiom Space is also partnering with many scientific organizations to continue understanding the effects of spaceflight on the human body as well as explore opportunities of applied research in space to benefit health and medical treatments on Earth. The Ax-3 astronauts will conduct more than 30 different experiments during their mission. Human research data collected on the ground before and after the mission as well as in flight will improve understanding of human physiology on Earth and in microgravity. Furthermore, this mission will harness opportunities for industrial advancements and develop technologies for humanity's progress. Unique to this mission, there is a strong focus on scientific portfolios led by European countries represented on the Ax-3 mission, to include Italy, Türkiye, and Sweden in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA). Commercial and academic partnership activities also remain a strong focus for the Ax-3 mission, as Axiom Space leads in building a global research community and robust and sustainable economic ecosystem in LEO. The Ax-3 crewmembers are Commander Michael López-Alegría of the US/Spain, Pilot Walter Villadei of the Italian Air Force, and Mission Specialists Alper Gezeravcı of Türkiye and Marcus Wandt of Sweden/ESA. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Ax-3 crew aboard a Dragon spacecraft to the ISS no earlier than January 2024 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Select Ax-3 Mission Investigations  Italy The Italian portfolio consists of experiments led by the Italian Air Force (ItAF) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), involving Italian universities, research centers, and companies wishing to leverage microgravity for biological and technological testing and development. <UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Evaluation of Endothelial Function in Personnel Exposed to Microgravity During Orbital Flight ActivityAs human research led by ItAF, the endothelial function experiment will use a technique to assess the vascular health and reactivity of astronauts before, during, and after spaceflight. The results will be compared to measurements from non-orbital flight personnel. The goal of this project is to better understand how vascular health changes during space missions to enhance knowledge related to future long-duration human spaceflight missions.<LI>Amyloid Aggregation UpgradeLed by ASI, this project builds on previous work in microgravity to investigate the aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ) proteins, which are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. Microgravity can disrupt the normal folding and unfolding of proteins, leading to the formation of misfolded proteins that are more likely to aggregate. Analyzing these proteins in microgravity provides an opportunity to better understand the mechanism of their aggregation and the formation of amyloid plaques, which can ultimately help develop new treatments. The research could also help identify potential risks for neurodegeneration for long-duration human spaceflight missions.<LI>Italian Space Operations Centre (ISOC) services for ISSThe ISOC services for ISS experiment aims to improve real-time space awareness with decentralized capabilities, providing an up-to-date space object catalogue and state-of-the-art algorithms to manage space safety. Using the systems onboard the ISS, ISOC will test the remote collection and process data needed to avoid collisions with resident space objects and to protect instrumentation from severe solar events.</UL> Türkiye Led by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK) and Turkish Space Agency (TUA), the Turkish portfolio has a strong focus on advanced technological development of novel hardware and capabilities to further advance Türkiye's goals as a space-faring nation and build on its successes in satellite development. <UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR-Gem)CRISPR is a groundbreaking genetic editing scientific technique that can be used to increase, decrease, insert, or remove genes from organisms. This work builds on previous microgravity research showing how microgravity affects the growth, movement, and genetics of plants, and could provide valuable insights into plant adaptation to extreme environments and help develop more resilient crops for agriculture.<LI>VokalkordThe Vokalkord experiment will focus on developing an artificial intelligence system to detect over 70 types of disease by analyzing audio data on respiratory, speaking, and cough sounds. This project further develops their software for use on Earth as a tool to identify and diagnose lung cancers, voice and vocal cord diseases, infectious diseases, and even cardiovascular and eye disease. This project also aims for the further development of a telemedicine application that can be used in space missions and space tourism.<LI>Innovative Research on Novel Space Alloys (UYNA)The UYNA experiment will investigate novel medium entropy and high entropy alloys (MEAs and HEAs respectively). These types of metal alloys are characterized by their high strength, toughness, and resistance to corrosion, and are of interest for potential applications in many industries, including space, aviation, automotive, energy, and medicine. The data from this experiment will help to improve our understanding of the formation and properties of MEA/HEA alloys, which could lead to the development of new and improved materials for a variety of applications.</UL> ESA/Sweden With a well-established and strong history in spaceflight, the ESA portfolio consists of projects and experiments that will continue to build on ESA's mission to shape the development of Europe's space capabilities and bring value to the citizens of Europe and the world. <UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>The Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air-2 (ANITA-2)The ANITA-2 project will sample air from the atmosphere on the ISS and automatically analyze trace contaminants. The system can recognize and quantify 33 trace gases via infrared light and identify unknown substances for additional analysis on the ground. This ongoing ESA project is part of ESA's technology development efforts for safe spaceflight in LEO and beyond.<LI>EchofinderThis technology demonstration project will test an ultrasound imaging system that will allow non-medically trained crew to perfectly position the ultrasound probe for high-quality medical imaging, without requiring a communications link with medical experts on the ground. The project aims to help future crews on exploration missions operate medical equipment more autonomously and speed up crew healthcare and medical decision-making.<LI>Multi-Avatar and Robots Collaborating with Intuitive Interface (Surface Avatar)The ESA-led Surface Avatar project is focused on developing robotic assets for space exploration, building infrastructure on planets and asteroids, and optimizing processes for data connections and communications relays. The applications of this project are also useful in scenarios such as arctic exploration, search and rescue in disaster zones, and under-sea maintenance.<LI>Orbital ArchitectureArchitecture has been known to play a crucial role in shaping the physical and social environments, and it directly impacts human physical and psychological well-being. This study aims to investigate the effects of architectural settings, and their properties on astronaut's cognitive performance, stress levels, and stress recovery rate. More specifically this activity looks to study if effects between the above-mentioned factors, observed in isolated and confined environments on Earth, and especially in space analog missions, are similarly observed in the environment of a space station.</UL> Partnerships As for previous missions, Axiom Space has partnered with many scientific organizations to continue to monitor the effects of spaceflight on the human body as well as explore opportunities of applied research in space to benefit health and medical treatments on Earth. Biological investigations into the development and treatment of certain cancers and neurological disorders are a strong focus for Ax-3. <UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>National Stem Cell FoundationBrain organoids are small 3D aggregates of neural cells that can be used to explore how the human nervous system develops or starts to degenerate. The Cosmic Brain Organoids project will use brain organoids derived from the stem cells of patients with the neurodegenerative diseases Parkinson's Disease and primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis to assess how microgravity affects the cells and uncover cellular pathways that could suggest novel therapeutic interventions for neurodegenerative diseases on Earth.<LI>Sanford Stem Cell InstituteThe Cancer in LEO project from the Sanford Stem Cell Institute (SSCI), in partnership with Axiom Space, is studying tumor organoids in microgravity with the aim of identifying the early warning signs of cancer for prediction and prevention of the disease. This project is part of the expanded Integrated Space Stem Cell Orbital Research (ISSCOR) collaboration between the Sanford Stem Cell Institute, JM Foundation, and Axiom Space, which aims to use microgravity to further understand stem cells, cancer, and aging-related effects in space to develop better prediction of disease and therapeutics for patients on Earth.<LI>Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) Essential MeasuresFollowing research conducted on Ax-1 and Ax-2, Axiom Space continues to work with TRISH to gather human physiological, behavioral, and biological data on how humans, especially commercial spaceflight participants, adapt to space. Results can also help inform Earth-based research into eye or movement disorders and the cognitive and emotional impacts of isolated, confined, or stressful environments.<LI>Bodewell Skincare StudyThe Bodewell Skincare study on Ax-3, sponsored by Procter and Gamble, will look at how effective Bodewell moisturizing cream—a specially-developed skin care product for people with eczema and psoriasis—is for preventing skin challenges that astronauts may experience in microgravity.</UL> Axiom Space and its partners will be releasing more details on the research conducted during the Ax-3 mission in the weeks to come; you can <a href="https://www.axiomspace.com/missions/ax3/research" target="AirLock">find more information here</a>.</blockquote></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#333333"><TD valign=top>Robert Pearlman</TD><TD>collectSPACE <blockquote><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-011824a-first-all-european-crew-ax3-launch.html">Axiom-3 launches on SpaceX to ISS with first all-European citizen crew</a>The first spaceflight to be crewed entirely by European citizens is now on its way to the International Space Station having launched on a private mission aboard a U.S. commercial spacecraft.Michael Lopez-Alegria, a former NASA astronaut who holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Spain, lifted off as the commander of Axiom Space's Axiom-3 (Ax-3) crew on Wednesday (Jan. 17), flying on SpaceX's Crew Dragon "Freedom" with pilot Walter Villadei of Italy and mission specialists Alper Gezeravci of Türkiye and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Marcus Wandt of Sweden.The four crewmates left Earth on a Falcon 9 rocket from Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 4:49 p.m. EST (1949 GMT). They are set to dock to the space station at 5:15 a.m. EST (1015 GMT) on Saturday to begin two weeks of science research, technology demonstrations and educational outreach.</blockquote> <center><a href="http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-011824a-first-all-european-crew-ax3-launch.html" target="AirLock"><img src="http://www.collectspace.com/images/news-011824a-lg.jpg" width="400" height="265" border="0"></a></center></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#494949"><TD valign=top>Robert Pearlman</TD><TD>Axiom Space release <blockquote>Ax-3 docks at, enters space stationThe Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew has successfully reached their destination and will begin their planned 14-day mission on the International Space Station (ISS). Ax-3 Commander Michael López-Alegría, Pilot Walter Villadei, Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravcı, and Mission Specialist Marcus Wandt entered the space station at 7:15 a.m. EST on Saturday (Jan. 20). As a symbolic gesture, commander López-Alegría ceremoniously adorned his fellow crewmates with the Association of Space Explorers' Universal Astronaut Insignia, marking the crew’s formal commencement of becoming astronauts. López-Alegría presented the pins, declaring Gezeravcı to be the 676th and Wandt the 677th to go to space. Villadei became number 666 during his Virgin Galactic flight on Jun. 29, 2023.The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft "Freedom" carrying the Ax-3 astronauts docked to the space station's Harmony module at 5:42 a.m. EST, while soaring over the Pacific Ocean.During their time aboard the space station, the Ax-3 crew will conduct a diverse array of over 30 experiments spanning various fields in science and technology. These endeavors aim to propel advancements in human spaceflight and contribute to enhancing life on our home planet. Ax-3 stands as the third among multiple proposed Axiom Space human spaceflight missions, laying the groundwork for Axiom Station, which is set to become the world’s first commercial space station.The mission is scheduled to conclude on Feb. 3 with undocking, culminating in a splashdown off the coast of Florida aboard the Dragon spacecraft.</blockquote></TD></TR><TR bgcolor="#333333"><TD valign=top>Robert Pearlman</TD><TD><blockquote>Axiom 3 crew departs space stationAxiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) commander Michael López-Alegría, pilot Walter Villadei, mission specialist Alper Gezeravcı and mission specialist Marcus Wandt were on the International Space Station (ISS) for about 18 days.SpaceX's Dragon Freedom with the Ax-3 crew aboard undocked from the space station on Wednesday (Feb. 7) at 9:20 a.m. EST (1420 GMT).After performing a series of burns to move away from the space station, Dragon will conduct multiple orbit-lowering maneuvers, jettison its trunk, and re-enter Earth's atmosphere for splashdown off the coast of Daytona Beach, Florida approximately 47.5 hours later on Friday (Feb. 9) at 8:30 a.m. EST (1330 GMT).During the mission, the Ax-3 astronauts successfully completed a total of 56 research activities — to include 39 conducted aboard the space station — focusing on life, physical and Earth science, as well as human research and technology demonstrations. The crew also conducted 28 media and outreach engagements with news outlets, government officials, organizations, and important stakeholders from their countries. Of those, nine engagements focused on educating and inspiring hundreds of students from around the world.</blockquote> <center><iframe width="400" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6IWHGYA46mQ?si=cVqIe_t5EesQfLAL" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen>

Robert Pearlman

Axiom-3 splashes down
Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) commander Michael López-Alegría, pilot Walter Villadei, mission specialist Alper Gezeravcı and mission specialist Marcus Wandt are home!
After a 47-hour journey back to Earth, the astronauts aboard the SpaceX Dragon Freedom capsule splashed down off the coast of Daytona Beach, Florida on Friday (Feb. 9) at around 8:30 a.m. EST (1330 GMT).
Ax-3 celebrates many firsts: it was the first commercial spaceflight mission comprised of government and ESA-sponsored national astronauts; Gezeravcı became the first-ever Turkish astronaut; and Wandt was the first ESA project astronaut to fly on a commercial space mission.

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