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Private Crew Mission Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket
The second fully commercial astronaut flight to the International Space Station (ISS) is set for liftoff on Sunday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The private crew mission, managed by Houston-based Axiom Space, has only two opportunities to launch Sunday and Monday. If not, they will have to wait until SpaceX’s resupply mission next month. The crew will ride into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft.
Record-breaking astronaut Peggy Whitson leads the crew, including U.S. businessman John Shoffner, and Saudi Arabian astronauts Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi, who will fly as mission specialists on the Ax-2 mission. During their time in orbit, they will perform biomedical experiments, chemistry and materials science research, and educational events with students on the ground.
Axiom’s Ax-2 Mission
The Ax-2 mission is Axiom’s second crew mission, following the company’s Ax-1 flight in April 2022, which made history as the first fully private astronaut crew to reach the space station. NASA is making resources on the space station available for commercial astronaut missions like Axiom’s flights, but Axiom, and ultimately the private crew members or their sponsors, must pay NASA for training and crew accommodations, such as access to the station’s life support system, food, and toilet.
The Cost of Private Astronaut Missions
The cost per seat has not been released, but NASA’s inspector general has estimated the price of a seat on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at about $55 million for NASA astronauts. It’s unknown how that might compare to a fully commercial seat price. So far, NASA has required private astronaut missions to the station to be commanded by a former professional astronaut.
Axiom’s Plans for the Future
Eventually, Axiom plans to construct a standalone private space station in low Earth orbit. NASA wants a commercial orbital outpost to be ready to take over the type of research performed on the ISS by the time it is retired in 2030.
Launch Date Delayed
The target launch date for the Ax-2 mission was delayed from earlier this month in a ripple effect from schedule slips on a previous SpaceX mission. It takes SpaceX about three weeks to reconfigure the launch pad from a Falcon Heavy mission to a crew flight on a Falcon 9 rocket. That delayed the Ax-2 launch until Sunday, May 21.
FAQs for Axiom Space Mission Launch
1. When is the Axiom Space mission launching?
The second fully commercial astronaut flight to the International Space Station (ISS) is set for liftoff on Sunday, May 23, or Monday, May 24.
2. Who is leading the crew for the Axiom Space mission?
Record-breaking astronaut Peggy Whitson leads the crew, including U.S. businessman John Shoffner and two Saudi Arabian astronauts Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi.
3. What is the Ax-2 mission?
Ax-2 mission is Axiom’s second crew mission, following the company’s Ax-1 flight in April 2022, which made history as the first fully private astronaut crew to reach the space station.
4. What is Axiom’s plan for the future?
Eventually, Axiom plans to construct a standalone private space station in low Earth orbit.
5. Has NASA given permission for commercial astronaut missions to the ISS?
NASA is making resources on the space station available for commercial astronaut missions like Axiom’s flights, but Axiom, and ultimately the private crew members or their sponsors, must pay NASA for training and crew accommodations.
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