Axiom Space sets undock, splashdown coverage for return of Ax-1 crew

EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to weather conditions, Ax-1 undock has been postponed to April 24. See updated media advisory for full details. (April 23, 2022)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Axiom Space is delaying the undocking of Ax-1 due to unfavorable weather conditions.  TWEET (April 18, 2022)

EDITOR’S NOTE: This advisory has been updated to reflect changes to the Ax-1 schedule as of April 17, 2022.

HOUSTON, 14 April 2022 – Axiom Space has set coverage for the return of its historic Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1), the first all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the four-person multinational crew is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station at approximately 10 p.m. EDT Tuesday, April 19, to begin the journey back to Earth.

Weather permitting, the spacecraft is anticipated to splashdown off the coast of Florida no earlier than approximately 3:24 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 20.

Courtesy of NASA

Coverage of the Ax-1 return will include four separate segments over two days - farewell ceremony, hatch closure, undocking and splashdown. All segments will be available at AxiomSpace.com

Axiom Space and NASA will begin joint coverage on the morning of Tuesday, April 19, with a farewell ceremony between the Ax-1 and Expedition 67 crews. Joint coverage will include hatch closure which will air live on NASA Television, the agency’s website, and AxiomSpace.com

Axiom Space, NASA and SpaceX will produce joint coverage for undocking at 9:45 p.m.

Then on Wednesday, April 20, Axiom Space and SpaceX will begin joint webcast coverage through splashdown beginning at 2:20 p.m. EDT on AxiomSpace.com.

Ax-1 is the first of several proposed Axiom missions to the ISS and an important step toward Axiom Station, the world’s first private space station, which will serve as a hub in low-Earth orbit for research and exploration.

Ax-1 Commander Michael López-Alegría, Pilot Larry Connor, and Mission Specialists Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy will complete 12 days in space at the conclusion of their mission. SpaceX Dragon Endeavour, the Ax-1 spacecraft, will return to Earth with more than 200 pounds of science and supplies, including NASA experiments, hardware and commercial science payloads.

Coverage of the crew’s farewell from the ISS and return to Earth will be available as follows (all times Eastern):

Tuesday, April 19

7 a.m.: Ax-1 Crew Farewell Ceremony

The crew on board the International Space Station will participate in an end-of-mission, in-orbit event. Watch live at AxiomSpace.com and nasa.gov/live.

7:45 p.m.: Hatch Close

The hatch will close between the Dragon spacecraft and the International Space Station in preparation for undocking. Coverage begins 15 minutes ahead of hatch closure, scheduled for approximately 8 p.m. Watch live at AxiomSpace.com and nasa.gov/live.

9:45 p.m. : Undocking

The Ax-1 crew undocks from the ISS to begin the journey back to Earth. Coverage begins 15 minutes ahead of undocking, scheduled for approximately 10 p.m. Watch live at AxiomSpace.com, nasa.gov/live and SpaceX’s YouTube channel.

Wednesday, April 20

2:20 p.m.: Splashdown and Landing Broadcast 

Coverage begins about an hour ahead of splashdown, scheduled for approximately 3:24 p.m. EDT. Watch live at AxiomSpace.com and SpaceX’s YouTube channel.

Time TBD: Post-landing Teleconference

Approximately one hour following the end of the webcast, Axiom Space and SpaceX leadership will provide remarks and take questions from reporters via teleconference.

Participants include:

• Derek Hassman, Operations Director, Axiom Space

• Benjamin Reed, Senior Director, Human Spaceflight Programs, SpaceX

To participate in the briefing, media must request call-in details no later than 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 20, by emailing media@axiomspace.com. This is a teleconference-only event (not in-person) with audio only.

This advisory will be updated as times are confirmed for events related to mission operations.  

Follow along for mission updates with #Ax1 on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, as well as our website.  

About Axiom Space

Axiom Space is 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 operates end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while privately developing its successor – a permanent commercial destination in Earth’s orbit that will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home. More information about Axiom can be found at www.axiomspace.com.

For more information contact:
Bettina Inclán
media@axiomspace.com

Ax-1 Crew Update: Flight Day 7

Today the Axiom astronauts aboard the International Space Station participated in a wide range of events, from HAM radio to the first-ever music duet performance in space to accomplishing more innovative science.

Here is an update for flight day 7:

Ax-1 Commander Michael López-Alegría and Neo-Classical Piano Prodigy BLKBOK made music and space history with their piano and keyboard duet performance of Stars (Ad Astra), a BLKBOK original composition. BLKBOK also performed Rocket Man, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, in a fitting tribute to the 50th anniversary of the iconic track, as well as to Commander López-Alegría and the entire crew. The idea for this history-making performance from space stemmed from a desire by both López-Alegría and BLKBOK to encourage a dialogue about music and education in general and to highlight the importance of STEAM as an educational discipline. As something that they both have experienced to spark their interest and lifelong love of the arts and sciences, they wanted to support the concept of including the Arts, along with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEAM), in education to prepare students to become innovators, in our ever-evolving world. Something they believe is mission critical, not only for the future of the students but for the future of us all.

López-Alegría called to order the Executive Committee of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International Committee F47 on Commercial Space from 250 miles above the Earth. In addition to the agenda, López-Alegría shared a congratulatory message to the committee in celebration of the 125th anniversary of ASTM International.

His research engagements for today included monitoring physiological and cognitive data using hardware and software to further understand the effects of microgravity during space missions.

Larry Connor, along with López-Alegría, continued work on the Aging and Heart Health investigation, an experiment from the Mayo Clinic. This study analyzes human cells for genetic markers of cellular aging and explores cardiac-like cells' adaptation to microgravity.

Eytan Stibbe engaged with Israeli middle school students through a two-way radio communication system, a HAM radio. The students managed the radio communication independently from the ground station for satellite communication at the Science Center in Herzliya in Israel. The initiative is part of the Rakia Mission and was led by The Ramon Foundation, NASA, the Israeli Amateur Radio Association, the Israel Space Agency, and ARISS (American Amateur Radio Association).

Stibbe also spoke with students from the Israeli Space-Startup program. This educational initiative for fifth and sixth graders uses space entrepreneurship practices to inspire students' curiosity about the world around them. Stibbe and the students started working on this project before the mission, and today's conversation was an important and exciting milestone in their project. Space-Startup encourages young students to specialize and excel in STEAM fields.

In addition, a festive event took place at the Rakia Mission Control Center in Tel Aviv, in which the artists participating in the Rakia Mission art project spoke to Stibbe and held a series of discussions about the arts and space. During the event, Stibbe presented artwork that used the unique physical conditions of microgravity, such as a sculpture created by radio waves and a specially designed ring to be worn in space.

Mark Pathy answered questions from students attending École Sir John Franklin High School in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Pathy shed light on how the rigorous training process prepared the crew for both the physical and mental aspects of the space mission.

Stibbe and Pathy spoke with students from the Selwyn House School, an independent K-11 boys' school located in Westmount, Quebec. They shared their experiences viewing Earth from the Cupola and some of their favorite experiments.

Pathy spent time in the Cupola with the blue planet in focus to gather imagery for Earth observation studies to gain deeper insights on changing planetary biology and human urbanization.

Ax-1 Crew Update: Flight Day 6

The crew is officially halfway into the mission, but there is more to be done before returning to Earth. Today was another busy day for the crew members as they continued conducting groundbreaking research and participating in outreach activities to inspire the global public.

The entire Ax-1 crew participated in an Earth-to-space call with local Houston students ages 8 to 18 attending a special event at Space Center Houston in Texas. The event served as a mid-way checkpoint for the crew and is one out of a series of in-flight events the Ax-1 astronauts are hosting with educational organizations to inspire and teach science, technology, engineering, art, and math to students around the globe. These STEAM-focused efforts are integral to each crew member’s desire to promote learning opportunities during the first private astronaut mission to the ISS.   

Earlier today Larry Connor shared personal reflections and explained the effects of microgravity on the body with Dr. Steven Nissen and his Cleveland Clinic colleagues. Connor is carrying out several research projects aboard the ISS to better understand aging and heart health in collaboration with Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. Connor also spoke with students to foster interest in STEAM and space careers from the Dayton Early College Academy, a public charter school in Ohio serving 1,300 students, K-12, who live in Dayton's most underserved communities.

Mark Pathy spoke with students from the Wikwemikong Pontiac School, a first nation education school serving students for the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve. Pathy explained how drinking water is processed on the ISS and what happens to your organs and blood when moving in an environment without gravity.  Recently, Pathy unveiled a winning piece of artwork from Indigenous schools. The artwork, inspired by Turtle Island, provides a message about the importance of Earth preservation for future generations. The effort is in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Geographical society. 

Ax-1 Commander Michael López-Alegría is currently on his fifth space mission. As commander, he assists the new astronauts in experiments, serves as a guide to life in microgravity, and ensures mission success. He also participates in several outreach efforts talking to journalists and organizations around the globe. 

Stibbe completed a space observation experiment (ILAN-ES) from the Cupola to study the electrical phenomena above thunderstorms, known as Transient Luminous Events. As part of the experiment, Stibbe photographed a lightning storm over Darwin, Australia, while the researcher leading the study, Prof. Yoav Yair, dean of the Reichman University School of Sustainability, accompanied him from the Rakia Mission Control Center in Tel Aviv. Daily predictions about the location of the storm are transmitted to Stibbe at the ISS by a team of scientists that guides him on where to point the camera. This protocol is similar to procedures of the MEIDEX experiment, which was conducted onboard the Columbia space shuttle in 2003, by the late Col. Ilan Ramon. Observations of these events from space will be compared with imagery taken of the same events from the ground to enhance understanding of the electrical processes in the atmosphere and to determine whether there’s a connection with climate change.

As part of the Rakia Mission, four scientific experiments that were developed by Israeli middle school students and as part of the SpaceLab project will be conducted at the ISS. SpaceLab, led by the Ramon Foundation, is the leading educational project in Israel in the field of space. The project gives students a unique opportunity to submit an experiment to the ISS after they have completed a project-based learning program. The experiments that are part of Stibbe's Rakia Mission are examining the effect of microgravity on microbiota, microbiota reaction to antibiotics, and how microgravity affects the speed of biodegradation of PET plastic by Ideonella Sakaiensis bacteria. These experiments also examine the effect of adding Moringa seed powder and copper pieces on the growth of E. coli germs under microgravity conditions and how microgravity affects the transfection rate of nano-ghosts to lung cancer cells.

Pathy successfully completed the third and final session of holoportation by evaluating the use of augmented reality technology to create a holo-presence of the crew on Earth and its Earth-based counterpart back up to space. This behavioral support activity can immediately improve the ISS crew member’s feeling of connectedness to loved ones and confidants on Earth. 

All of the astronauts are completing daily sessions to evaluate whether the development of emotional distress can be detected by continuous app-based monitoring of basic Central Nervous System (CNS) functions. A combination of wearable sensors along with a self-report questionnaire and functional testing mobile application will allow accurate monitoring of stress levels among crew members throughout their space journey. 

As the crew inches closer to its final days on the ISS, each astronaut will continue working around the clock to ensure the appropriate measures and preparations are being made to finalize the more than 25 scientific experiments currently being conducted aboard the space station as part of the world’s first all-private astronaut mission on the ISS. 

Axiom Space Private Astronauts Speak with Students at Space Center Houston

Space Center Houston hosted local area students for a special space-to-ground video call with Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station. The Ax-1 crew, the first all-private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, took questions for 20 minutes from students ages 9 to 18 about what it’s like to work and live aboard the space station.

The event, which occurred on Wednesday, April 13 at 11:35 a.m. CT in the auditorium of Space Center Houston, included all Ax-1 crewmembers, Commander Michael López-Alegría, Pilot Larry Connor, and Mission Specialists Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy. 

Commander López-Alegría answered some questions in English and Spanish from the Houston-based kids. 

The Ax-1 mission launched on Friday, April 8, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Ax-1 is the first all-private astronaut mission to the ISS and the first of several proposed missions to the space station from Axiom Space, a leader in human spaceflight, now building the first commercial space station. During their time in space, the crew members will work on more than 25 experiments, contributing to a broad range of scientific research.

Ax-1 Crew Update: Flight Day 5

The team is buzzing at Axiom Mission Control Center (MCC-A) in Houston as it assists the crew conducting groundbreaking research and integrating commercial payloads while on the International Space Station.  Today was a busy day for science with the Ax-1 crew.  

Eytan Stibbe worked on the Nano ISS Antenna experiment, a deployable reflector antenna for high bandwidth communications, which was developed by the Israeli startup company NSLComm. The antenna must be tested in microgravity, as it does not hold its shape under Earth's gravity. This test is the last qualification activity of the antenna before the 2022 launch of NSLASAT-2, an ESA (European Space Agency) satellite.  

Ax-1 Commander Michael López-Alegría worked on the Modeling Tumor Organoids Experiment, a cancer stem cell proof of concept project that will leverage the accelerated aging aspects of the microgravity environment to evaluate early pre-cancer and cancer changes in stem cells.  

The human body undergoes complex adaptation when exposed to extreme conditions of space travel. The Cardioprotection experiment led by Larry Connor, with contributions from crewmates like Pathy, will provide human data on the impact of spaceflight on cardiac function. These tests will reveal how to fly a more diverse population of space travelers. 

With a focus on Earth observations, Mark Pathy executed his scientific study of changing planetary biology and human urbanization. Using images Pathy captured from the cupola on the ISS, researchers from Western University in Canada will analyze and present a pictorial review of the impact of human and natural pressures on our terrestrial ecosystem.  

To better prepare for long-term space missions, the Neurowellness technology demonstration includes a large helmet developed by the Israeli company Brain.Space, which the crew members wear on their heads to test cognitive performance and brain activity. The experiment led by Stibbe is also supported by Connor and López-Alegría.  

Stibbe conducted an experiment on Fluidic Space Optics project that aims to better understand liquid polymer behavior and how microgravity affects liquid deployment and solidification of the polymer into optical lenses components. This demonstration aims to show in-space manufacturing can significantly improve the production of optics for deep space astronomy. The experiment is headed by the faculty of mechanical engineering at the Technion and in collaboration with NASA. 

Stibbe also worked on two experiments, which are carried out daily to support the field of remote medicine: The Urinary Microbiome experiment by researchers Dr. Ben Boursi from the Oncology Center at Sheba Medical Center and Dr. Paul Chang at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in the United States; and an experiment for remote detection of the onset and development of emotional distress and stressful situations. The latter is led by Dr. Harel Baris of Sheba MC clinicians and researchers at ARC, Sheba Centre for Medical Innovation, and the Department of Psychiatry at Sheba MC and their partners at Thomas Jefferson University in the United States.  

During its time on the International Space Station, the multinational crew of Ax-1 will be doing outreach activities in five languages. Today, the Axiom astronauts spoke to diverse groups all around the world about their historic mission. 

Connor spoke with students at Dayton Regional STEM School students, a public independent STEM school serving students in grades 6-12 from across the Dayton community. He also connected with students and families at The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, a children's museum, science and technology center, and zoo in Dayton, Ohio, that focuses on science and natural history. At both events, Connor answered questions on a range of issues from his research to sharing his experiences of life aboard the space station.  

Stibbe spoke to reporters in Israel, discussing his mission as the first Israeli astronaut to visit the ISS. 

Pathy participated in a number of events across his home country of Canada. He hosted a live talk on STEM with students at St. Patrick High School in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. He answered questions from children from the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation in Montreal, Quebec. Pathy also participated in an engaging session with students from the Shawanosowe School in Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Pathy is Canada's 2nd private astronaut and the 12th Canadian to go to space. 

With the end of the fifth day of the mission, the crew has officially reached the halfway mark of its time in space. 

Ax-1 Crew Update: Flight Day 4

The Axiom Astronauts began a full slate of science and outreach activities. The crew members continue to get accustomed to life in microgravity, learning how to move their bodies in the constant free-fall environment of the International Space Station (ISS).    

The four-person multi-national Ax-1 team brings the total number of occupants on the station to 11 individuals living on the orbiting laboratory. Like most astronauts, the Ax-1 crew members are tightly scheduled throughout their eight days on the ISS, often down to planning five-minute increments. With a full ISS complement ensuring every crew member accomplishes his daily tasks, the ISS mission planners play a real-life Tetris game for space.    

The astronauts are tasked with many responsibilities, including capturing images via pictures and videos. All crew members received extensive training on how to use the media equipment to accurately capture Earth observations, scientific investigations, technology demonstrations, and record rich content for future use.    

Crew members also will document their meals and navigation around the space station.  

Throughout the week crew members will participate in educational STEAM activities. Ax-1 Mission Specialist Eytan Stibbe participated in several events supporting the Rakia Mission. Under the banner "There is No Dream Beyond Reach" one of Rakia's goals is to inspire a new generation to dream big. Stibbe is using his time on the ISS to develop engaging content for students in Israel. He’ll answer questions, complete STEAM educational programming, and conduct science experiments.    

Today the crew began working on its robust science portfolios, composed of more than 25 experiments and technology demonstrations.  Some examples:  

Ax-1 Commander Michael López-Alegría installed edge computing capabilities that will contribute to the future of smart space stations.    

Ax-1 Pilot Larry Connor, working with the Mayo Clinic on Aging and Heart Health, brought human cells to test the effects of microgravity on the heart. Today he started to examine the impact of microgravity on those cells, which can help us better understand aging.     

Ax-1 Mission Specialist Mark Pathy demonstrated the value of bringing augmented reality to space by setting up the Holoportation system. These interactive two-way Holoportation sessions will afford the ability of future crew members to explore deep space with the ability to bring friends, family, and physicians close with them so that they can get an on-Earth experience. This technology has potential applications for telemedicine on Earth.  

Axiom Space’s science is turning sci-fi into reality. 

Axiom Ax-1 Astronaut, Larry Connor, first to reach space, ocean depths in a year

Dayton, Ohio – Real estate and technology entrepreneur Larry Connor successfully piloted the historic Ax-1 mission to outer space Friday, the first fully private mission to the International Space Station. The launch makes him the first person in history to reach space and the deepest parts of the ocean within one year.

“I’ve always encouraged others to dream big, aim high and set impossible goals,” Connor said. “Nothing is impossible unless you think it is impossible. Both of these feats are great challenges that came with great responsibility.”

Ax-1 Crew Update: Flight Day 3

The Ax-1 crew has begun their work aboard the International Space Station (ISS). They are adjusting to working in microgravity and becoming familiar with the various aspects of living onboard the station. For most of the day, the crew prepared the science and equipment needed on the orbiting lab as they head into a full week of research and outreach activities.

Ax-1 Astronaut Eytan Stibbe spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday via video call. Stibbe is Israel’s second astronaut and the first Israeli to ever make it to the ISS.

Flight Day One was launch and Flight Day Two was docking and arrival.

Our favorite moments from the Ax-1 Launch

Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1), the first all-private mission to the ISS launched from NASA’s historic Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A on April 8, 2022 on a SpaceX Dragon and Falcon 9.

Relive some of our favorite moments below. Check out more imagery on our Giphy, YouTube, and Flickr libraries. Tell us which is your favorite part of the Ax-1 mission on social with the hashtag #Ax1.

Crew Dry Dress

Practice makes perfect. A picture perfect day welcomed the crew of Ax-1 during the dry dress rehearsal. 

Crew walkout

The Ax-1 crew is the first set of Axiom astronauts to travel to space. The launch webcast started with this iconic image of the Ax-1 crew walking out of the suit-up room from SpaceX’s Falcon Support building.

Larry Connor Greets SpaceX

Showing off his ninja skills, Larry Connor greets the SpaceX suit technicians known as SpaceX ninjas before traveling up the elevator on Pad 39A. Stibbe cheers him on. The pad ninjas, wearing all black, assist the crew board the Dragon spacecraft.

Crew Ingress

Let’s light this candle! Mark Pathy and Michael Lopez-Alegria, followed by Larry Connor and Eytan Stibbe walk down the crew access arm toward the Dragon spacecraft.

Crew ready for launch

All strapped in and ready to go! The Ax-1 astronauts have boarded the Dragon spacecraft and are ready to launch to the International Space Station for the 10-day mission to space, becoming the first all-private mission to the orbiting laboratory.

Michael López-Alegría & Eytan Stibbe sign off

The crew shares inspirational words ahead of their historic journey. Eytan Stibbe recites key lines from Ithaka by the Greek poet, Constantine Cavafy, “…Arriving there is what you’re destined for. But don’t hurry the journey at all…” While Michael López-Alegría thanks the many teams that made this mission possible.

Liftoff

“Together a new chapter begins. Godspeed Ax1,” said Axiom’s John Rackham on the Ax-1 launch webcast. The Ax-1 mission signals a new era in commercial human spaceflight and the first step in Axiom’s plans of building the first commercial space station.

“Zero-G and we feel fine”

Michael López-Alegría gives a quick report from his commander seat inside the Dragon as the spacecraft enters orbit and the Falcon 9 lands on the SpaceX droneship.

Caramel the Dog in orbit

The Ax-1 crew and their zero gravity indicator, Montreal Children's Hospital mascot Caramel the Dog, acclimate to weightlessness in their first live check-in from orbit on Saturday, April 9, at around 2:30 a.m. ET. The crew, and their mascot, remain full of energy.

Stunning views as Dragon approaches the ISS

Jaw-dropping Earth views surround the Dragon spacecraft carrying the Ax-1 crew as they approach the ISS for docking.

Dragon docks at the ISS

After a journey of almost 21 hours, Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria, Larry Connor, Eytan Stibbe, and Mark Pathy arrived at the International Space Station at 8:29 a.m. EDT Saturday, April 9. The SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft docked to the orbital lab about 260 miles above the Atlantic Ocean.

Welcome Aboard

With the addition of the Ax-1 crew, there are now 11 humans living on the International Space Station. The Expedition 67 astronauts welcomed their new crewmates. Shortly after, Commander MLA conducted a pinning ceremony for the new astronauts, Connor, Stibbe, and Pathy.

For more mission moments, follow our mission updates.

Axiom Space celebrates arrival of Ax-1 crew to International Space Station

The historic Ax-1 crew has arrived at the International Space Station. Commander Michael López-Alegría, Pilot Larry Connor, Mission Specialist Eytan Stibbe, and Mission Specialist Mark Pathy entered the space station shortly after the hatch opened at 10:13 a.m. EDT on Saturday, April 9.   

The Axiom astronauts were welcomed by Expedition 67 crew members, including NASA astronauts Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev, Sergey Korsokov, and Denis Matveev. With the addition of the Ax astronauts there are now 11 people working and living on the orbiting laboratory.  

The crew received a call from the ground from NASA’s Kathy Lueders, Associate Administrator for Space Operations and Michael Suffredini, President and CEO, Axiom Space who congratulated the crew for making history as the first all-private astronaut crew to the International Space Station.   

Shortly after, López-Alegría, in his role as mission commander, pinned Connor, Stibbe, and Pathy with a pin from the Association of Space Explorers (ASE), signifying their status as astronauts and official start of their journey aboard the space station.  ASE, an international association of astronauts who have flown into Earth orbit and beyond, created the pin as a universal astronaut insignia to unite space explorers and travelers.  

"There's a tradition when you pass a certain boundary you become an astronaut. That happened to these three gentlemen for the first time yesterday. Now I'd like to note it officially," López-Alegría explained before pinning each of his Ax-1 crewmates. "When I pin these on -- I think the numbers are 582, 583, and 584 for Larry, Eytan, and Mark -- I hope they will wear these with the pride they deserve." 

The Ax-1 crew will live and work aboard the orbiting laboratory for eight days, conducting more than 25 research experiments across a breadth of biological and technological areas to inform future human spaceflight and improve life on Earth. Ax-1 is the first of several proposed Axiom Space missions to the International Space Station, and a critical first step toward Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station.    

Follow along for mission updates with #Ax1 on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  

Ax-1, first all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, docks

After a journey of almost 21 hours, Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria, Larry Connor, Eytan Stibbe, and Mark Pathy arrived at the International Space Station at 8:29 a.m. EDT Saturday, April 9. The SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft docked to the orbital complex while the spacecraft were flying about 260 miles above the Atlantic Ocean. 

Dragon’s docking was delayed approximately 45 minutes as the space station teams, including mission controls at NASA and SpaceX, worked to troubleshoot an issue preventing the crew members on station from receiving views from Dragon’s center line camera of the Harmony’s modules docking port. Mission teams worked to route video using a SpaceX ground station to the crew on the space station allowing Dragon to proceed with docking.  

Following Dragon’s link up to the Harmony module, NASA astronaut and station commander Tom Marshburn will pressurize the space in between the Dragon and station hatches and perform a leak check before opening the hatches to welcome the private astronaut crew. 

Once aboard the station, the Axiom crew will be welcomed by Expedition 67 crew members, including NASA astronauts Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev, Sergey Korsokov, and Denis Matveev.  

The Ax-1 crew is the first all-private astronaut crew to travel to the ISS. 

Follow along for mission updates with #Ax1 on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  

Ax-1 Crew First Check-In From Orbit

The Ax-1 astronauts did a quick check-in from the SpaceX Dragon during their journey to the International Space Station. The crew shared a few of their first experiences of being in space:

The Axiom crew is scheduled to arrive at the International Space Station on Saturday, April 9 at approximately 7:45 a.m. ET  

Axiom Space Launches NFT Marketplace during Historic Ax-1 Mission to ISS

HOUSTON, April 8, 2022 – Axiom Space, a leader in human spaceflight, now building the first commercial space station, announced today the debut of its NFT marketplace ahead of its historic Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station. During the mission, Axiom will initiate the minting of several NFTs from space. Starting today, space fans of all kinds can purchase the first NFT and receive updates ahead of the upcoming drops.

Axiom’s custom NFT marketplace will feature digital artwork associated with the Ax-1 mission. Commander Michael López-Alegría will create a piece from space, representing his own personal experience of the Overview Effect. Mission Specialist Eytan Stibbe, Israeli impact investor and philanthropist, brings an inspirational message of unity, peace, and hope with digital artist Amit Shimoni. Mission Specialist Mark Pathy, a Canadian entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, will create digital artwork featuring his personal Ax-1 mission patch, representing pushing one’s own limits. In addition to the crew members personal art, famed artist Michael Kagan, known for his paintings and sculptures of iconic images of space exploration, has created exclusive pieces to commemorate the Ax-1 mission, including an augmented reality 3D spacewalker.

“We’re pleased to debut the official Axiom Space NFTs to the global space community. It has been our mission to make the dream of traveling to space a reality for more of humanity and our digital artwork offering is a first step in getting everyone involved,” said Tejpaul Bhatia, Chief Revenue Officer of Axiom Space. “Axiom’s NFT collection is one of several initiatives to encourage interest in exploring life beyond Earth's orbit while working to make participation in space exploration more accessible.”

Axiom is committed to opening opportunities and expanding access to space exploration to more people, organizations, and institutions around the world. With this in mind, NFT's on Axiom’s marketplace can be purchased through cryptocurrency and traditional fiat currency.

Axiom’s NFTs will be released over the coming days with the first official drop occurring during the Ax-1 crew’s mission. Following the initial release, additional collections will be available throughout the mission and during splashdown when the Ax-1 crew return to Earth.

To purchase the first NFT or to find out more information about Axiom’s NFTs, visit nft.axiomspace.com.

About Axiom Space 

Axiom Space is 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 operates end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while privately developing its successor – a permanent commercial destination in Earth’s orbit that will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home. More information about Axiom can be found at www.axiomspace.com. 

Ax-1 Mission Signals Zero-G with Soft Stowaway Caramel the Dog, Mascot for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation

Those tuning in to Ax-1’s live launch broadcast Friday likely noticed an unexpected guest in the cabin –– a small plush toy that appeared to float mid-air as the crew reached microgravity. The stowaway was Caramel the Dog, the mascot of the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation. 

Caramel served an important role as the mission’s zero-gravity indicator. Zero-gravity indicators are small items, often stuffed toys, chosen by space crews to provide a clear visual indication that they have reached microgravity. 

The Ax-1 crew selected Caramel as their indicator in part because of the mission’s connection to Montreal Children’s Hospital. The Ax-1 crew includes Mission Specialist Canadian entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist Mark Pathy, whose research on the space station will include several projects led by the clinician-researchers at Montreal Children’s Hospital and Child Health Research at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. Investigations include research into chronic pain and sleep disturbances during space travel, which are likely to have real world impact. 

Pathy will also have a live conversation from space with children at the hospital. 

Ax-1 mission launches successfully; 4 private astronauts en route to space station

Courtesy of SpaceX

Axiom Space’s Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1), the world’s first all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS), launched Friday. The four-person multi-national crew of Ax-1 is now in orbit following an 11:17 a.m. EDT liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  

The crew is traveling aboard SpaceX’s Dragon Endeavor spacecraft, which was launched by the company’s Falcon 9 rocket. Dragon Endeavour is anticipated to dock to the space-facing port of the ISS Harmony module around 7:45 a.m. Saturday, April 9. A live webcast on axiomspace.com will begin at 5:30 a.m. for the approach initiation burn. 

The Ax-1 crew includes Commander Michael López-Alegría of Spain and the United States, Pilot Larry Connor of the United States, and Mission Specialists Eytan Stibbe of Israel and Mark Pathy of Canada.  

During their 10-day mission, the crew members will spend eight days on the ISS conducting more than 25 scientific research and technology demonstrations. This robust portfolio opens more opportunities to scientists and researchers around the globe and will provide vital data in preparation for Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station.  

“I first want to congratulate Michael, Larry, Eytan, and Mark. We will usher in a new era in private human spaceflight when they cross the threshold to enter the ISS,” said Michael Suffredini, president and CEO of Axiom Space. “This journey is the culmination of long hours of training, planning, and dedication from the crew and the entire Axiom Space team, our partners at SpaceX, and of course, a credit to NASA’s vision to develop a sustainable presence in low-Earth orbit.” 

NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) astronauts and Roscosmos cosmonauts already aboard the space station will welcome the Ax-1 crew after docking.  

“What a historic launch! Thank you to the dedicated teams at NASA who have worked tirelessly to make this mission a reality,” said Administrator Bill Nelson. “NASA’s partnership with industry through the commercial cargo and crew programs has led our nation to this new era in human spaceflight — one with limitless potential. Congratulations to Axiom, SpaceX, and the Axiom-1 crew for making this first private mission to the International Space Station a reality.” 

Follow along for mission updates with #Ax1 on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and on our website.  

About Axiom Space 

Axiom Space is 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 operates end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while privately developing its successor – a permanent commercial destination in Earth’s orbit that will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home. More information about Axiom can be found at www.axiomspace.com. 

For more information contact:  

Bettina Inclán
media@axiomspace.com 

Ax-1 Clears NASA’s Launch Readiness Review, Prepares for Liftoff

Mission managers with NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX have completed the Launch Readiness Review for Axiom’s Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station. The no-earlier-than launch date is targeted for 11:17 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 8, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

A prelaunch news conference followed the Launch Readiness Review. Catch the replay below:

Participants included:

• Derek Hassmann, Operations Director, Axiom Space

• Dana Weigel, International Space Station Deputy Program Manager, NASA

• Angela Hart, Commercial LEO Program Manager, NASA

• Benjamin Reed, Senior Director, Human Spaceflight Programs, SpaceX

• Brian Cizek, Launch Weather Officer, 45th Weather Squadron, U.S. Space Force

The Ax-1 crew includes Commander Michael López-Alegría of Spain and the United States, Pilot Larry Connor of the United States, and Mission Specialists Eytan Stibbe of Israel and Mark Pathy of Canada. The crew will travel in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and launch on a Falcon 9 rocket.

Weather reports are favorable for launch day at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, though conditions along the ascent corridor continue to be monitored.

Follow along for mission updates on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Ax-1 Mission Timeline

The Ax-1 mission timeline, listing major milestones in the hours leading up to the Ax-1 launch and through hatch opening with the International Space Station, is now available for download.

How to watch the launch

The live coverage of the Ax-1 launch will be a joint effort with Axiom, NASA, and SpaceX. The coverage will follow the journey of the four-person, multinational crew from walkout to liftoff and will continue until roughly 15 minutes after launch.

Axiom and SpaceX will begin covering prelaunch and launch activities live at axiomspace.com beginning at 7:50 a.m. ET on April 8. NASA will join Axiom’s live broadcast during the last hour of launch coverage at 10:15 a.m. ET. 

Axiom and NASA will cover docking that will follow the launch coverage at 5:30 a.m. ET on April 9.

Here’s how you can watch the first all-private astronaut mission to International Space Station

Download Image

The Ax-1 crew is set to launch no earlier than Friday, April 8th and become the first all-private crew mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts will spend eight days working and living aboard the orbiting laboratory while conducting research that lays the groundwork for a full realization of the possibilities in low-Earth orbit. The four-person multinational crew is composed of Commander Michael López-Alegría of the USA/Spain, Pilot Larry Connor of the USA, Mission Specialist Eytan Stibbe of Israel, and Mission Specialist Mark Pathy of Canada.

When and where the launch will take place 

Liftoff is targeted for Friday, April 8 at 11:17 a.m. ET from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The astronauts will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and will travel to and from the space station in the Dragon. 

How to watch the launch 

The live coverage of the Ax-1 launch will be a joint effort with Axiom, NASA, and SpaceX. The coverage will follow the journey of the four-person, multinational crew from walkout to liftoff and will continue until roughly 15 minutes after launch, from 7:50 am till ​approximately 11:30 am ET.

Axiom and SpaceX will begin covering prelaunch and launch activities live at axiomspace.com beginning at 7:50 a.m. ET on April 8. NASA will join Axiom’s live broadcast during the last hour of launch coverage at 10:15 a.m. ET. The launch show will end at approximately 11:30 am ET.  ​

The Ax-1 broadcast will resume for docking, when the crew's spacecraft connects with the International Space station, at approximately 5:30 a.m. ET on April 9. 

Join the conversation!

Join the conversation about the launch online through our social media channels and by using #Ax1 or ask a question using #AskAx1.

On social: 

Twitter: @Axiom_Space 
Instagram: @Axiom.Space

Ax-1 now targeting April 8th launch

Axiom Space’s Axiom mission 1 (Ax-1) is now targeting launch no earlier than (NET) Friday, April 8. 

Late last week, SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft arrived in the hangar at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where it has since been mated with the Falcon 9 rocket. The team is continuing with pre-launch processing work in the hangar ahead of vehicle rollout on Tuesday, April 5. This shift puts dry dress with the Ax-1 crew on Wednesday, April 6, followed by an integrated static fire test of the rocket on the same day. 

As such, SpaceX, Axiom, and NASA are now targeting NET Friday, April 8 at 11:17 a.m. EDT for launch of the Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station. Docking is scheduled for Saturday, April 9 at approximately 7:30 a.m. EDT. 

The Ax-1 crew astronauts continue their quarantine in Florida and are ready and prepared for launch.

In Case You Missed It: Watch the Ax-1 Crew Press Conference

In case you missed it, on Friday April 1st, Axiom Space hosted a virtual press conference with leadership from Axiom and the Ax-1 crew 5 days before the launch of the first all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Ax-1 is currently scheduled to launch on April 6 at 12:05 p.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Catch the playback below or on Axiom Space’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/axiomspace and follow along for mission updates on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Axiom’s website with #Ax1.