AxStation

Axiom Space Featured in Freethink's Hard Reset Series

Axiom Space is featured in the latest episode of Freethink's acclaimed documentary series, Hard Reset. Get an inside look at how Axiom Space is leading a transformation of low-Earth orbit and is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space exploration.

The episode covers the development and testing of Axiom Space’s new spacesuits, the AxEMU, and a look at the world’s next-generation space station, Axiom Station, which will replace the International Space Station when it retires at the end of this decade.

We invite you to learn more about how Axiom Space is building for beyond.

Axiom Space Goes All-In on AWS for Its Enterprise Cloud Services Needs on Earth

Houston-based company Axiom Space to rely on AWS terrestrial services (cloud, database, security, high-performance compute) to support its operations, business, and engineering teams

Axiom Space, a leader in commercial human spaceflight and architect of the world’s first commercial space station, today announced that it is going all-in on Amazon Web Services (AWS) in support of its terrestrial information technology (IT) infrastructure. By migrating its enterprise IT to AWS, Axiom Space looks to provide its engineers, ground operations, and business development teams the terrestrial cloud infrastructure necessary to enable development of its next-generation commercial space station, Axiom Station.

Credit: Axiom Space

In parallel to going all-in on AWS for enterprise IT needs, Axiom Space and AWS will continue to collaborate on validating cloud-based hardware and software capable of supporting in-space workloads. These include cutting-edge scientific research and discovery that Axiom Space supports on-orbit to benefit new pharmaceuticals development, stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and other areas of study in the microgravity environment. Axiom Space and AWS are also collaborating on the development and demonstration of in-space cybersecurity solutions that set the foundation for operating a cybersecure Axiom Station.

Christian Maender, EVP of Space Commercialization for Axiom Space said, “We are very excited to expand our collaboration with AWS. Going all-in on enterprise IT needs provides us the necessary cloud services foundation on Earth to support our engineering, operations, and business teams as they build Axiom Station and the markets it will serve. We remain excited to collaborate with AWS on advancing the state of the art of cloud infrastructure on-orbit as we build a multi-cloud and multi-user environment for our future space station customers.”

In order to support a thriving global space economy in low-Earth orbit, Axiom Station will require cloud-based technology to quickly and reliably analyze data on orbit, closer to where the data is collected, even when operating with limited bandwidth and connectivity. As a first step on this path, Axiom Space and AWS worked together to integrate and operate an AWS Snowcone device on the International Space Station as part of the Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) in April 2022. Together, the teams used the device’s powerful edge processing capability to apply a sophisticated machine learning (ML)-based object recognition model and quickly analyze images of various scientific experiments on orbit. Today the AWS Snowcone – a small, rugged, and secure device offering edge computing, data storage, and data transfer on-the-go, in austere environment with little or no connectivity – remains on orbit and Axiom Space continues to demonstrate unique use cases in edge processing, artificial intelligence (AI), ML, and in-space cybersecurity with its partners (Axiom Space Collaborates to Advance In-Space Data Processing and Cybersecurity Solutions — Axiom Space).

“Axiom Space is using AWS’s global infrastructure and a broad and deep portfolio of cloud services to deliver revolutionary solutions to the space industry,” said Dave Levy, AWS vice president, worldwide public sector. “We are proud to support Axiom Space’s vision to incorporate advanced cloud-based technology into future missions supporting on-orbit research, scientific discovery, and space exploration.”

Beyond going all-in on AWS for its enterprise IT needs, and demonstrating edge compute capabilities via the AWS Snowcone on the ISS, Axiom Space and AWS intend to continue exploring:

  • Using AWS for modeling and simulation in support of Axiom Station development

  • Equipping Axiom Space’s mission control center (MCC-A) with cloud capabilities

  • The development and use of digital engineering capabilities

  • Applying AI/ML for autonomy specific use cases around Axiom Station safety, monitoring, and mission operations

  • Working together with other industry teams (e.g., Energy, Health, Telecommunications, Advanced Manufacturing) to help build and mature the in-space economy

  • Deploying and operationalizing AWS cloud capabilities as part of Axiom Space’s multi-cloud and multi-user Orbital Data Center

ABOUT AXIOM SPACE

Axiom Space is building for beyond, guided by the vision of a thriving home in space that benefits every human, everywhere. The leading provider of human spaceflight services and developer of human-rated space infrastructure, Axiom Space operates end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while developing its successor, Axiom Station – the world’s first commercial space station in low-Earth orbit, which will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home. For more information about Axiom Space, visit www.axiomspace.com

Axiom Space Offers VR Experience of Axiom Station during IAC Special Session (VIDEO)

Exclusive sneak-peak at Axiom Station

(PARIS) - Axiom Space today debuted an innovative session at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Paris providing a virtual tour of Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station.  Making use of Axiom’s industrial and design and engineering models, Axiom leaders used virtual reality technology to guide the audience through an interactive video of Axiom’s in-production space station.

Outfitted with headsets and projecting their field of vision onto a large screen for the audience, Axiom leaders Chief Technology Officer Matt Ondler, Executive Vice President of In-Space Manufacturing Christian Maender, and Chief Astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, demonstrated design features of the company’s commercial space station. The first module of Axiom station is currently planned for launch in the mid-2020’s to attach to the ISS.

In collaboration with her colleagues, the session was created by Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar, Chief of Government and External Affairs, who welcomed the audience and worked with the team to answer questions. Axiom’s industrial and VR designers Kelsey Kim and Corey Smith were on hand and highlighted Axioms’ innovative methods of design and development.

The exclusive special sneak peek included Ondler’s overview of the construction and development of Axiom Station. Maender provided a tour of Axiom's research and manufacturing module and previewed  the unique scientific and manufacturing capabilities of the commercial space station. Lopez-Alegria took the audience on a virtual spacewalk around Axiom Station, explaining the various design elements and future experience for Axiom astronauts, including a look out of Axiom’s Earth observatory cupola, eight of the largest windows ever constructed for the space environment with breathtaking views of planet Earth.

The audience was then invited to participate in the session with questions and ideas.  Several audience members donned the Axiom virtual reality headsets and toured the station for themselves, with their journey projected to all in attendance.

The step-by-step narration of Axiom Station design and capabilities was an exclusive “out of this world experience for the IAC attendees.  Below is a short clip of Lopez-Alegria flying to Axiom’s earth observatory cupola.

A major step forward in the construction of Axiom Station

Thales Alenia Space’s Turin plant recently took a major step forward in the construction of the primary structure of the Axiom commercial space station’s first module.

The Manufacturing Readiness Review was completed on September 21, allowing the start of welding operations on the pressurized module cone panels, key parts in the pressurized section of the Axiom Hub 1.

The actual welding operations kicked off just a few days ago, a major achievement for Thales Alenia Space since it marked the first use of the friction stir welding process in Europe to construct such a large pressurized module!

Thales Alenia Space to provide the first two pressurized modules for Axiom Station

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Rome 15 July, 2021 – Thales Alenia Space, Joint Venture between Thales and Leonardo, and Axiom Space of Houston, Texas (USA), have signed the final contract for the development of two key pressurized elements of Axiom Station - the world’s first commercial space station. Scheduled for launch in 2024 and 2025 respectively, the two elements will originally be docked to the International Space Station (ISS), marking the birth of the new Axiom Station segment. The value of the contract is 110 Million Euro.