Ax-1 Pilot Larry Connor demonstrates microgravity during an outreach event.
The Ax-1 crew’s short-duration mission to the International Space Station has been extended a few more days due to unfavorable weather conditions for undocking and landing. The Axiom astronauts have learned to operate on a packed schedule full of scientific research, technology demonstrations and outreach events with little downtime in between. Now as they await departure, the crew is still working, but taking a bit more time to absorb the remarkable views of the blue planet and review the vast amount of work that was successfully completed during the mission.
The crew has been capturing content to add to a portfolio of assets that will be later used on the ground for Earth observation research and public engagement and outreach. Commander López-Alegría used his extra time in space to revisit science experiments and technology demonstrations, including testing hardware and software for edge computing that could simplify operations of future spacecraft.
Commander López-Alegría, Larry Connor, and Eytan Stibbe signed the neurowellness helmet, which was brought with the crew on the space station to demonstrate the technological feasibility of cognitive performance and brain activity monitoring. The data collected from this study will help inform us on how space causes neurological changes in the brain.
Summing up the previous days working on the orbiting laboratory, the crew conducted dozens of experiments in support of over 25 science payloads and technology demonstrations curated with leading academic and research partners around the globe. The astronauts also conducted investigations with Axiom research partners including self-assembling technology for future space habitats, cancer research, and air purification systems on space stations. An array of data was collected in-flight to impact understanding of human physiology on Earth and in-orbit as well as establish the utility of novel technologies that could be used for future human spaceflight pursuits and humankind on Earth.
Ax-1 is the first of several proposed Axiom missions to the ISS, providing valuable insight as Axiom Space works toward Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) and building the world’s first commercial space station, Axiom Station.