Axiom Space - commercial space station

By DocM,
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DocM
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Fact: eventually, the International Space Station will be retired and NASA wants to use commercial space stations in low Earth orbit instead. These would be commercial entities, privately operated. Want to use it? Reserve the time and book your space launch.

 

Result: NASA has selected Axiom Space to lead the way.

 

Axiom Space is a private space company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Fouded and run by NASA veterans,

 

https://www.axiomspace.com/

 

Axiom Space CEO: Michael Suffredini, former Program Manager ISS Program (2005-2015)

Axiom Space VP: Michael Lopez-Alegria, former NASA Astronaut

among others...

 

the goals are,

 

1) fly commercial passengers to the International Space Station, initially using the Crew Dragon spacecraft then others as they become available. The customers  would be those doing commercial or government experiments, private visitors, etc.  The missions will be named AX-1, AX-2, etc.


2) launch the Axiom Node One module to the ISS in 2024, then expand. AxN1 is under construction in Europe at Thales Alenia Space. This would be followed by several other modules, roughly one every  year. The AX-(n) mission crews would move into these habitats.

 

3) in the late 2020's these modules will disconnect from the ISS, becoming a free-flying commercial Axiom Station. 

 

EPn_nx2XUAE7Kef.jpg

 

AX-1 mission

 

The commercial Crew Dragon AX-1 mission to ISS is currently scheduled for January, 2022.

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/26/axiom-space-unveils-ax-1-crew-for-fully-private-spacex-mission-to-iss.html

 

Note: besides AX-1, there will be another commercial Crew Dragon flight for Space Adventures.

 

Commander: Michael Lopez-Alegria (US, former NASA astronaut, Axiom VP)


Pilot: Larry Connor (US; managing partner Connor Group)


Mission Specialist 1: Mark Pathy (Canada; CEO Mavrik Inc.)


Mission Specialist 2: Eytan Stibbe (Israel; businessman, former IAF pilot)
 

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FloatingFatMan
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Axiom you say?

 

 

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