Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-25-2021 10:15 AM
Please use this topic to discuss Axiom Space's second private crewed mission (Ax-2) to the International Space Station.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-25-2021 10:17 AM
From Ax-2 commander Peggy Whitson (via Twitter):
Out of this world excited about being named Commander of the Axiom 2 flight to the International Space Station!! I am looking forward to showing my pilot, John Shoffner, some space ninja secrets too.
In addition to Whitson and Shoffner, the winner of Discovery Channel's proposed Who Wants to be an Astronaut? is slated to fly on Ax-2, too.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-25-2021 12:42 PM
John Shoffner formed J2-Racing with his wife, Janine, in 2012. John was a driver for the team with multiple class wins and podium finishes in both Carrera cup and GT3 class.
J2 Racing's Mercedes-AMG GT3 is sponsored by Axiom Space:
Delta7 Member
Posts: 1752 From: Bluffton IN USA Registered: Oct 2007
posted 05-25-2021 06:15 PM
Maybe Whitson and Shoffner will fly with Tom Cruise and Doug Liman.
Rex Walheim is also now with Axiom. Whitson's backup/commander of mission no. 3?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-25-2021 07:02 PM
As noted above, three of the four seats on Ax-2 are reserved: Whitson, Shoffner and the winner of "Who Wants to be an Astronaut?"
Just hanging around with my commander Peggy Whitson. The training for Ax-2 has officially begun.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-19-2022 08:40 AM
Per today's meeting of the NASA Advisory Council's Human Exploration and Operations Committee, the launch of Axiom 2 is now targeted for early 2023, rather than late this year.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-20-2022 02:18 PM
Saudi Arabia is planning to launch two astronauts to the International Space Station, reporters Reuters.
The sources, speaking anonymously to discuss the mission's crew before its formal announcement, said the deal was signed privately earlier this year with Houston's Axiom Space, which arranges and manages private missions to space on U.S. spacecraft for researchers and tourists.
Under the deal, two Saudi astronauts will ride SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule to the space station for a roughly weeklong stay early next year, the sources said. The Saudis would be the first from their country to go into space aboard a private spacecraft.
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 1364 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 09-20-2022 11:03 PM
Given that the Saudis got two seats on AX-2, I take it that whoever wanted to be an astronaut either got canned or pushed back to another flight.
Delta7 Member
Posts: 1752 From: Bluffton IN USA Registered: Oct 2007
posted 01-24-2023 03:08 PM
I'm curious as to what Axiom's plan is for the subsequent Axiom missions, being that NASA set the rule that each of their missions to the ISS be commanded by a (former) NASA astronaut who has flown to the ISS. Have they, or are they planning to, recruit more former astronauts, or will Mike L.A. and Peggy Whitson take turns going forward?
The only other former astronaut that I'm aware is employed by Axiom is Rex Walheim. Is he a potential commander?
brianjbradley Member
Posts: 171 From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Registered: Dec 2010
posted 01-25-2023 09:31 AM
Be great to see Rex Walheim in that rotation!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-30-2023 04:44 PM
Axiom Space held a media roundtable today (Jan. 30) and I asked Mike Suffredini about the company's astronaut ranks and whether they were actively hiring more former astronauts. His reply:
Without saying too much. I'll just tell you that we will have the right professional astronauts available to fly the flights that require it.
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 1364 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 01-30-2023 06:21 PM
While the Crew Dragon may be relatively simple to learn to fly, from all I've seen it still takes about 6 months to train to fly the Dragon. Given that Axiom is a business, I can't imagine that they'd train too many extra ex-astronauts.
I assume there will be more than the two that flew/fly Axiom 1 and 2, as I believe those two ex-astronauts have some sort of management role in Axiom, but I can't imagine that there would be many more.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-06-2023 11:54 AM
The Axiom 2 mission is targeted for launch on May 8, 2023 at 10:43 p.m. EDT (0245 GMT on May 9), setting a docking at the space station on May 10 at 11:40 p.m. EDT (0340 GMT on May 11).
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-02-2023 07:15 PM
From NASA (via Twitter):
NASA, Axiom Space and SpaceX are working together to identify the best available opportunity to launch the Axiom Mission 2 to the International Space Station; we are no longer targeting opportunities in early May. More information on the updated target launch date will be shared soon.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-05-2023 05:04 PM
From NASA (via Twitter):
Launch Update: NASA, Axiom Space and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 5:37 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 21, for the launch of the Axiom Mission 2 to the space station.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-21-2023 12:35 PM
Axiom Space live video
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
Posts: 3707 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 05-22-2023 08:17 AM
I had a look, but I suspect the spacecraft was too low in the sky to clear local trees and houses... and patchy cloud. I did briefly spot a moving light, but it could have been a combination of stationary star and scudding cloud.
Still, if the good folk at KSC keep firing crews in my direction, sooner or later I might get to see one of them.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-22-2023 08:25 PM
The Ax-2 welcome ceremony, including Peggy Whitson presenting the three first-time fliers with their Association of Space Explorers' Universal Astronaut pins:
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-29-2023 11:37 AM
Ax-2 crew farewell ceremony as held on Monday (May 29). Whitson, Stoffner, AlQarni and Barnawi are scheduled to leave the space station and land on Tuesday, pending weather conditions.
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 3047 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 05-30-2023 12:07 PM
Is there somewhere to get the potential ground tracks for tonight's splashdown? I believe it is the Gulf but if they change the plan and land off the coast in the Atlantic I hope for clear skies here in Georgia.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-30-2023 01:00 PM
The primary landing site is in the Gulf of Mexico, south of Panama City.
NASA has been asked for ground tracks, but to date neither the space agency or SpaceX have agreed to provide the press (or public) with the information.
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 3047 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 05-30-2023 01:04 PM
OK, thanks. I wonder if they will get meteor sightings across Florida again for this reentry.
328KF Member
Posts: 1391 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 05-30-2023 04:34 PM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: NASA has been asked for ground tracks, but to date neither the space agency or SpaceX have agreed to provide the press (or public) with the information.
There really is nothing in these private missions for the general public. Axiom has deemed only high-end potential customers are worthy of their attention.
One would think that given they are using a U.S.-taxpayer funded research facility as a destination, there would be more openness required by NASA as part of the deal.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-30-2023 05:18 PM
Hundreds of children in the U.S. and worldwide entered the free poetry and art contest that John Stoffner ran with Crayola. Stoffner and Peggy Whitson also connected with a number of U.S. classrooms and museums to promote STEM and STEAM education.
The Ax-2 crew took part in several experiments related to cancer and tissue development that when added to other studies could eventually generate a great return for the American public and the public at large.
And Axiom Space has been producing daily updates (which you can read and watch under the update thread or on the company's website), keeping the public informed.
While it is frustrating that some details that should be public, like ground tracks, are being withheld, it is isn't a zero-sum game.
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 1364 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 05-30-2023 05:20 PM
Given how crowded the Demo-2 landing site was with small craft after landing, and given the unfortunate reality of terrorism in today's world (Saudi Arabia, anyone?), I can certainly understand why things are being kept on a short leash information wise.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-30-2023 08:21 PM
Axiom Space video
Coverage of the Ax-2 crew, Dragon's re-entry, and splashdown will be available on Axiom Space and SpaceX beginning about an hour ahead of splashdown.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-30-2023 09:50 PM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: NASA has been asked for ground tracks...
SpaceX did not provide a re-entry graphic, but the Crew Dragon is expected to cross into the U.S. over Washington state and descend along a southeasterly trajectory over Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana on the way to splashdown in the Gulf.
Residents in southern Louisiana, Mississippi and the Florida panhandle may be able to see the Crew Dragon's plasma trail as the spacecraft endures temperatures up to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit, blazing like a shooting star as it decelerates in the lower atmosphere.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52218 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-01-2023 02:33 PM
Axiom Space video
After returning to Earth from a 10-day mission in space, the astronauts of the Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) will participate in a press conference to share their experience and highlight the work conducted during the second all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
posted 05-25-2021 10:15 AM
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