MEDIA ADVISORY: Axiom Space to Hold Ax-3 Mission Overview Press Conference

Axiom Space will hold a virtual press conference with leaders from NASA and SpaceX, as well as leaders from the Italian Air Force, Turkish Space Agency (TUA), and European Space Agency (ESA) to provide a high-level review of mission operations and objectives to officially kick off major media efforts leading up to Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3).

Ax-3 will be the first all-European commercial astronaut mission to launch to the ISS – redefining the pathway to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and helping chart a course toward Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station. 

As part of Ax-3, Türkiye is sending its first astronaut to space in a larger effort to expand the nation’s space exploration capabilities and establish a national human spaceflight program. Ax-3 will also be the first commercial spaceflight mission for an ESA-sponsored astronaut. For Italy, the Ax-3 mission represents a whole-of-country effort to expand its access to space for the purposes of research, development, and innovation. 

The Ax-3 crewmembers are Commander Michael López-Alegría of the U.S. and Spain, Pilot Walter Villadei of the Italian Air Force, and Mission Specialists Alper Gezeravcı of Türkiye and Marcus Wandt of Sweden and ESA. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Ax-3 crew aboard a Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) no earlier than January 2024 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 

AX-3 MISSION OVERVIEW PRESS CONFERENCE
Wednesday, December 13 at 9:00am CT

Participants include:

• Matt Ondler, President, Axiom Space 

• Michael López-Alegría, Chief Astronaut and Ax-3 Commander, Axiom Space

• Angela Hart, Manager, Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program, NASA

• Joel Montalbano, Manager, International Space Station Program, NASA

• Sarah Walker, Director, Dragon Mission Management, SpaceX

• Col. Valerio Anastasi, Chief of Space Programs and Capabilities Office, Italian Air Force

• Tufan KAYACI , Head of Launch System Department, Turkish Space Agency (TUA)

• Frank De Winne, Head of the European Astronaut Centre, European Space Agency (ESA)

This press conference will be held virtually. Media must register to participate in this briefing and must RSVP by 12:00pm CT on December 12.

Register here for the mission overview press conference: https://axiomspace.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_y12DchVZT3mCqs1F3AoV-Q

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Follow along for mission updates with #Ax3 on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook, and on our website.

Updated: 12/12/2023

Ax-3 Crew Completes Training at ESA, JAXA for Upcoming Mission to ISS

(Right) Ax-3 backup Tuva Atasever, Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravcı, and Mission Specialist Marcus Wandt (Left) at Tsukuba Space Center in Japan.

Astronaut training with international partners is an indispensable component of the preparation required for Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), as the crew gears up for their mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in January 2024. Sharing living quarters and collaborative workspaces with NASA astronauts and those from various international partner nations necessitates a deep understanding of the space station's systems and operations.

Both the European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) along with the Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation (JAMSS) provided highly specialized training programs to ensure the Ax-3 crew is fully equipped to function seamlessly within the multinational framework of the ISS. This training was pivotal in guaranteeing that the Ax-3 astronauts can effectively and successfully carry out the assigned mission tasks in the ISS modules.

Ax-3 Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravcı and backup Tuva Atasever at ESA training in Cologne, Germany.

ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC), located in Cologne, Germany, hosts astronaut training programs that cover a broad spectrum of subjects essential for ISS operation. These topics include but are not limited to robotics, emergency response procedures, and space science. Collaborating closely with the ESA training team, and with the support of the Aerospace Logistics Technology Engineering Company (ALTEC), the Ax-3 crew completed supplementary training that delved into the intricacies of the Columbus module. This module, Europe's contribution to the ISS, serves as a versatile laboratory for interdisciplinary research conducted in microgravity.

Over at JAXA's Tsukuba Space Center in Japan, the Ax-3 crew engaged in rigorous training sessions with astronaut trainers from JAXA and JAMSS. The focus was to learn how to operate in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), known as Kibō. The training regimen encompassed honing technical skills related to space research and acquiring an in-depth understanding of the JEM module's capabilities.

Watch the Ax-3 Science on the Mission Press Conference

Today Axiom Space held a virtual press conference with leaders from the Italian Air Force, Italian Space Agency, TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute (TÜBİTAK UZAY), European Space Agency (ESA), and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA) to discuss the scientific experiments, microgravity research, and technology demonstrations that will be a part of Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3). 

Unique to this mission, there is a strong focus on scientific portfolios led by European countries flying on the Ax-3 mission, to include Italy, Türkiye, and Sweden in partnership with ESA. The Ax-3 crewmembers will represent their nations in low-Earth orbit (LEO) and perform scientific experiments, microgravity research, and demonstrations that are of high national importance. Commercial and academic partnership activities also remain a strong focus for the Ax-3 mission, as Axiom Space leads in building a global research community and robust and sustainable economic ecosystem in LEO. 

Participants included:

• Dr. Lucie Low, Chief Scientist, Axiom Space

• Jana Stoudemire, Director of In-Space Solutions, Axiom Space 

• Col. Domenico Antonacci, Space Policy and Operations Office, Italian Air Force

• Dr. Barbara Negri, Head of Human Flight and Scientific Experimentation Unit, Italian Space Agency

• Ömer ATAŞ, Project Manager/Chief Engineer, TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute

• Hasan Ersel Gürel, Physicist, Turkish Space Agency (TUA)

• Dr. Kristine Dannenberg, Head of Space Exploration and Access to Space, Swedish National Space Agency 

• Dr. Julia Weis, ISS Utilization Planning and Integration Team Lead, European Space Agency

 Click here to watch the press conference.

Ax-3 Mission to Further Advance Europe’s Microgravity Research Initiatives

Credit: ESA–A. Conigli

European Space Agency, Swedish National Space Agency to shape the development of Europe’s commercial space capabilities

Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) is enabling Europe to take a visionary, leadership role in the future of commercial space. For the first time, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA), have teamed with a commercial space company to send one of ESA’s project astronauts to space. The mission is a ground-breaking venture demonstrating a pivot from the decades-long reliance on NASA and Roscosmos for access to the orbiting laboratory to conduct microgravity research, technology development, in-space manufacturing, and STEAM outreach.

The ESA and SNSA research portfolio consist of projects and experiments that will continue to build on the agency’s mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capabilities and bring value to citizens around the region and world. The portfolio has many activities that support ongoing ESA projects on the ISS to develop advanced technologies for application on Earth and enable long-term space habitation and exploration. The continued work during Ax-3 will help us understand how humans can live and work off our home planet. In addition, the investigations aiming to understand changes in Earth’s atmosphere and physical forces in microgravity will further inform researchers exploring fundamental scientific principles.  

The Ax-3 mission represents a shared commitment to scientific discovery, technological advancement, education, and commercial innovation.

ESA/SNSA RESEARCH STUDIES

The Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air-2 (ANITA-2)
The ANITA-2 project will sample air from the atmosphere on the ISS and automatically analyze trace contaminants. The system can recognize and quantify 33 trace gases via infrared light and identify unknown substances for additional analysis on the ground. This project is part of ESA's ongoing technology development efforts for safe spaceflight in low-Earth orbit and beyond.

Multi-Avatar and Robots Collaborating with Intuitive Interface (Surface Avatar)
The ESA-led Surface Avatar project is focused on developing robotic assets for space exploration, building infrastructure on planets and asteroids, and optimizing processes for data connections and communications relays. The applications of this project are also useful in scenarios such as arctic exploration, search and rescue in disaster zones, and under-sea maintenance.

Sleep in Orbit
The Sleep in Orbit project will investigate the effects of sleeping in microgravity by monitoring sleep patterns in space and comparing them to sleep on Earth using in-ear electroencephalogram (EEG) equipment. Understanding more about disturbed sleep or adaptation of sleep patterns to new environments could help us understand the cognitive impacts of poor sleep, including problems with attention, concentration, learning and memory, decision-making, and emotional processing.

Credit: NASA

Orbital Architecture
Architecture has been known to play a crucial role in shaping the physical and social environments, and it directly impacts human physical and psychological well-being. This SNSA study aims to investigate the effects of architectural settings, and their properties on an astronaut’s cognitive performance, stress levels, and stress recovery rate. More specifically this activity looks to study if effects between the above-mentioned factors, observed in isolated and confined environments on Earth, and especially in space analog missions, are similarly observed in the environment of a space station.

Boundary cap neural cells (in red) in contact with Insulin-producing pancreatic islets (green) in microgravity during a sounding rocket experiment. | Credit: Uppsala University

MemoBC
The MemoBC is a national program implemented via an agreement between SNSA and ESA. Stem cells have great potential for regenerative medicine as microgravity increases the proliferation of stem cells and its differentiation potential. The goal of this study is to identify the effects of microgravity on neural stem cell differentiation, proliferation, and function. This also includes determining possible delayed emergence and the molecular basis for observed effects, focusing on possible stem cell-induced changes in their culture medium during microgravity and underlying genetic and epigenetic modifications.

Bone Health
Exposure to microgravity and immobilization can cause a loss of bone density, which can increase the risk of bone breakage and injury. In microgravity, the changes start to take place very soon after leaving Earth—the extent and timeframe of reversal of these changes upon return from space are under investigation. This ongoing ESA-led project monitors whether bone loss halts or continues upon re-entry after human spaceflight missions.

CIMON (Crew Interactive MObile CompanioN)
This project is developing and testing an artificial intelligence (AI) powered free-flying companion, called CIMON, to support crew and help with efficiency during long-term missions. CIMON can fly freely through the ISS to support the crew as they perform tasks and can respond to verbal commands. This technology development project also looks at human-machine interactions to build robots and other technologies that are intuitive and easy for humans to use and rely on. The work will help design technologies on Earth that will optimize performance for seamless integration into many sectors, such as manufacturing, aviation, and healthcare. 

Effects of Prolonged Spaceflight on DNA Methylation Age (DNAmAge)
The DNAmAge project will investigate how radiation exposure during spaceflight can affect DNA and its repair. By looking at epigenetic changes, ESA researchers will learn more about the epigenetic clock, a combined measure of aging in humans that considers a person's birthday and biological age. This project will help us understand the impact of spaceflight on aging mechanisms in the human body and provide broad applicability to the study of aging and its biological bases.

Thor-Davis
This project will investigate lightning activity at the top of thunderstorm clouds that extend into the stratosphere to better understand the role of thunderstorms on atmosphere dynamics and chemistry. Using a special camera that responds to local changes in brightness, the Thor-Davis cameras can image lightning at up to 100,000 frames per second, giving accurate pictures of what happens during a lightning strike. The proximity of these images taken from the ISS, versus weather satellites in higher orbits, helps investigators get more accurate altitude-related measurements. Other goals from this project include understanding the relationship between electrical activity and convective thunderstorm activity, the effect of lightning on atmospheric greenhouse gas composition, and the impact of lightning that extends beyond the tops of clouds on greenhouse gas circulation.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Axiom Space, European Partners to Discuss Ax-3 Microgravity Research and Demonstrations

Axiom Space will hold a virtual press conference with leaders from the Italian Air Force, Italian Space Agency, TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute (TÜBİTAK UZAY), Turkish Space Agency (TUA), European Space Agency (ESA), and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA) to discuss the scientific experiments, microgravity research, and technology demonstrations that will be a part of Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3). 

Unique to this mission, there is a strong focus on scientific portfolios led by European countries flying on the Ax-3 mission, to include Italy, Türkiye, and Sweden in partnership with ESA. The Ax-3 crewmembers will represent their nations in low-Earth orbit (LEO) and perform scientific experiments, microgravity research, and demonstrations that are of high national importance. Commercial and academic partnership activities also remain a strong focus for the Ax-3 mission, as Axiom Space leads in building a global research community and robust and sustainable economic ecosystem in LEO. 

The Ax-3 crewmembers are Commander Michael López-Alegría of the U.S. and Spain, Pilot Walter Villadei of the Italian Air Force, and Mission Specialists Alper Gezeravcı of Türkiye and Marcus Wandt of Sweden (ESA project astronaut). A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Ax-3 crew aboard a Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) no earlier than January 2024 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 

SCIENCE ON THE MISSION PRESS CONFERENCE
Thursday, November 30 at 9:00am CT

Participants include:

• Dr. Lucie Low, Chief Scientist, Axiom Space

• Jana Stoudemire, Director of In-Space Manufacturing, Axiom Space 

• Col. Domenico Antonacci, Space Policy and Operations Office, Italian Air Force

• Dr. Barbara Negri, Head of Human Flight and Scientific Experimentation Unit, Italian Space Agency

• Ömer ATAŞ, Project Manager/Chief Engineer, TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute

• Hasan Ersel Gürel, Physicist, Turkish Space Agency (TUA)

• Dr. Kristine Dannenberg, Head of Space Exploration and Access to Space, Swedish National Space Agency

• Dr. Julia Weis, ISS Utilization Planning and Integration Team Lead, European Space Agency

This press conference will be held virtually. Media must register to participate in this briefing and must RSVP by 12:00pm CT on November 29.

Register here for the science on the mission press conference: https://axiomspace.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__-sDAiHUSSqYi86vrYZHzw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the press conference.

Follow along for mission updates with #Ax3 on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook, and on our our website.

Updated on 11/28/2023

Ax-3 Mission to Enable Important Technological Advancements for Türkiye

Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) serves as an important milestone for Türkiye as the country reflects on changes and progress made in the past 100 years during its centennial anniversary. Türkiye is moving forward to pursue opportunities in space exploration that will contribute to important advancements in economic development, education, technology, and human research.

Led by TÜBİTAK  UZAY (TÜBİTAK SPACE TECHNOLOGIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE) and the Turkish Space Agency (TUA), the Turkish research portfolio has a strong focus on advanced technological development of novel hardware and capabilities to further advance Türkiye’s goals as a space-faring nation.

TURKISH RESEARCH STUDIES:

CRISPR GEM – Extremophyte 
Investigation of CRISPR Gene Editing Efficiency in Plants Under Microgravity (GEM) and salt stress responses of extreme halophyte model Schrenkiella parvula in space environment
CRISPR is a groundbreaking genetic editing scientific technique that can be used to increase, decrease, insert, or remove genes from organisms. In this TÜBİTAK UZAY-sponsored project, researchers will investigate the downregulation via the CRISPR technique of three genes involved in the stress response of Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress, a member of the mustard family). The second part of the investigation will evaluate the salt stress tolerance of two plants — one salt-sensitive and one salt-tolerant — that will be germinated and grown on the International Space Station (ISS). This work builds on previous microgravity research showing how microgravity affects the growth, movement, and genetics of plants. The project could also provide valuable insights into plant adaptation in extreme environments and help develop more resilient crops for agriculture.

Vokalkord
The Vokalkord experiment will focus on developing an artificial intelligence system that runs on mobile devices to detect over 70 types of diseases, including infectious diseases, voice and vocal cord diseases, and even cardiovascular diseases by analyzing breath, phonation, and cough sounds. Testing the tool in microgravity will allow researchers to continue validating the system as an easy-to-use telemedicine system that could be used in the future to monitor the health of spaceflight participants.

UYNA
Innovative research on novel space alloys
The UYNA experiment will investigate novel medium entropy and high entropy alloys (MEAs and HEAs, respectively). These types of metal alloys are characterized by their high strength, toughness, and resistance to corrosion and are of interest for potential applications in many industries, including space, aviation, automotive, energy, and medicine. The data from this experiment will help to improve the understanding of the formation and properties of MEA/HEA alloys, which could lead to the development of new and improved materials for a variety of applications.

gMETAL
Microgravity effects on metal particles dynamics in fluids
The gMETAL project will investigate how microgravity impacts the mixing of solid particles into a gas (two-phase mixture formation) within a contained environment. This project is important to understand how metal particles and an oxidizing gas can react in a combustion chamber for efficient combustion and maximum heat release. Applications for this research include the development of zero-carbon energy generation technologies on Earth, as well as the development of propulsion systems or energy generation on Mars.

The MESSAGE
Microgravity associated genetics research
This study will assess microgravity associated changes in gene expression in human immune system T-cells collected from an astronaut. After flight, the project will use CRISPR gene editing technologies to knock out genes in T-cells found to be upregulated by space travel. The researchers will also aim to produce an immune cell response with the observed microgravity-associated gene changes by using an acoustic levitation device on the ground to mimic microgravity and explore the cellular changes in proliferation, survival, and stress responses. By better understanding the response of the immune system to the stress of microgravity, this project aims to identify potential astronaut explorers who may be more suited for spaceflight missions due to the resilience of their immune system.

Metabolom
Analysis of changes in metabolome/transcriptomes of astronauts on a space mission
Spaceflight can be a stressful experience as the human body adapts to changes in microgravity, such as physical demands, nutritional changes, and lack of sleep. The physiological changes can be monitored by profiling the "'omics" of the body — the changes in gene expression (genomics), protein expression (proteomics) or metabolites (metabolomics). A better understanding of an astronaut’s individual response to spaceflight can help to develop personalized countermeasure procedures that can optimize the safety and performance of each astronaut.

This project aims to gather data during the Ax-3 mission to better understand the effects of short-duration space travel on the human metabolism, regulation of the immune system, and related genes under microgravity stress. This project will inform Turkish researchers working on gravitational physiology, aviation, and space medicine on best practices for astronaut care, as part of Türkiye’s developing national space program.

Pranet-Algalspace
Propolis extract is a natural product from bees, called "bee glue," used for hive construction and maintenance, which is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. The first part of this research project, called Pranet, is a STEM project led by 13 and 14-year-old students aiming to investigate the effect of propolis extract on bacteria in microgravity. If the experiments prove that propolis extract can exhibit anti-microbial properties in space, this could open avenues for future research on new and natural product-based cleaning agents for future spaceflight applications.

The second part of this project, called Algalspace, includes conducting a comparative study of Antarctic and temperate microalgae cultivation under the conditions in space. The information gathered will help make a valuable contribution to studies aiming to provide sustainable bioregenerative life support systems for space missions.

UzMan
Microalgal life support systems for space missions
Algae have many properties that make them ideal organisms to support humans during long-duration spaceflight missions. The use case of algae includes serving as a nutritional source in astronaut menus, removing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen for spacecraft environmental control systems, helping regulate spacecraft temperatures, recycling certain wastes, and even acting as a source of fuel. The data generated from this experiment will be used to advance the development of microalgal life support systems for space missions and could impact the design of future carbon dioxide capture, oxygen conversion, wastewater treatment systems, and provide fertilizer options for other agricultural crops grown in space. 

Ax-3 Mission to Include Research Studies led by Italian Air Force, Italian Space Agency

Credit: Italian Air Force | ISOC system provides an updated space object catalogue and state-of-the-art algorithms for space-related events, such as collisions.

Microgravity is a unique environment to develop and enable new technologies and perform meaningful scientific research. For Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), the Italian Air Force (ItAF) in coordination with Italy’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) are looking at this commercial human spaceflight mission as an opportunity to further strengthen Italian competences in space by carrying out experiments on the International Space Station (ISS). ItAF’s expertise in defense and security will be leveraged to support the scientific and technological community by fostering new capabilities in microgravity research and through technology and biology demonstrations, to include aeronautics, electronics, communication, and medical science.

The Italian research portfolio consists of experiments led by ItAF and the Italian Space Agency (ASI – Agenzia Spaziale Italiana), which will involve Italian universities, research centers, and companies wishing to leverage microgravity for biological and technological testing and development. Experiments include projects related to spaceflight safety with the intent of fostering the national capabilities to conduct operations in space. The Italian research portfolio also include activities to investigate and mitigate the physiological effects of spaceflight on humans, understand biological changes related to health and disease on Earth, and conduct commercial activities to improve cuisine and materials development in space for long-term space habitation. 

ITALIAN RESEARCH STUDIES:

Italian Space Operations Centre (ISOC) services for ISS
Developed by ItAF, the ISOC system provides an updated space object catalogue and state-of-the-art algorithms for space-related events, such as collisions, and will be operated in space for the first time during the Ax-3 mission. The ISOC command and control software is the core of the ItAF Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Center, a European hub for assessing reentry and fragmentation of space objects. This project is a proof-of-concept experiment aimed at demonstrating how astronauts could be able to obtain near real-time conjunction analysis with limited support from Earth ground segments or even autonomously. Operators will be able to screen dangerous approaches and estimate orbital maneuvers. The Ax-3 crew will have the capability to monitor solar activity and report onboard events potentially related to space weather by means of a dedicated experimental service of the ISOC web portal.

Credit: Spacewear

Smart Flight Suit 2 (SFS2)
SFS2, designed and produced by Spacewear, is an innovative Suit for astronauts, built with over 200 pieces in order to provide maximum comfort of movement, equipped with safety bumpers in the most exposed physical parts, fireproof but breathable, and capable of detecting biomedical data. Fabrics and devices are certified therefore SFS2 represents a unique example in the current panorama which will be tested for a minimum of 8 hours. The suit is able to maintain body temperature at normal levels both under physical exertion and in cooling contexts and is able to monitor biomedical data via integrated devices and transmit them in real time or store them, depending on the operation of the bluetooth function. In addition to providing a form of active and passive safety, it is a prelude to further developments in the implementation of comfort and operational safety in space, with implications that can also be used on planet earth.

Credit: Italian Air Force | Color e PW Doppler Ultrasound of left brachial artery showing blood flow during reactive hyperaemia

Evaluation of Endothelial Function in Personnel Exposed to Microgravity During Orbital Flight Activity
This first-of-its-kind study will include a pre-flight, on-orbit, and upon re-entry ultrasound brachial artery evaluation using the “flow mediated dilation” technique complemented by blood samples for specific endothelial function markers — this will involve long-term follow ups. This study will add a new layer of knowledge about the interaction between the space environment and humans for a better understanding of the physiology of endothelium disfunction as a preclinical marker of future cardiovascular disease and an indicator of artery health in long-duration space missions.

Credit: Courtesy of Dr. L. Bertuccini, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) / ASI

βeta-Amyloid Aggregation Update
Led by ASI, this project builds on previous work in microgravity to investigate the aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ) proteins, which are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease). Researching proteins in microgravity provides an opportunity to better understand the mechanisms of Aβ protein aggregation and the formation of amyloid plaques, which could lead to insights into how to prevent or reverse formation in Alzheimer's patients. The research could also help identify potential risks for neurodegeneration for long-duration spaceflight, as microgravity can influence the normal folding and unfolding of proteins.

Credit: L. Parmitano / ESA

Light Ion Detector for ALTEA, Anomalous Long-Term Effects on Astronauts (LIDAL)
The ASI-sponsored LIDAL detector system has been measuring the ions composing cosmic radiation (from protons, up to iron) on the ISS since January 2020, when it was installed in the Columbus module — more than two terabytes of data have been acquired since installment. The project aims to develop the first, real-time radiation risk meter on the ISS to keep the crew informed about risks from cosmic radiation and space weather events.

Credit: ASI / Università degli studi di Roma La Sapienza

Ovarian Research In microgravity cONditions (ORION)
ORION is a continuation of an ASI project to study the effects of microgravity on ovarian cells and investigate the mechanisms of hormone production and modulation in space. This research will help understand fundamental mechanisms of fertility that could translate into findings to improve the success of fertility treatments on Earth, as well as begin research to understand reproduction off Earth.

Credit. ASI / Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)

PROtection MEdiated by antioxidant nanoTEchnOlogy against neuronal damage in space II (PROMETEO II)  
ASI’s PROMETEO II project is a follow up study aimed to investigate how exposure to microgravity and space radiation affects cellular response to stress, as well as the protective effects of specific antioxidant nanoparticles on neuronal cells. The results could help develop countermeasures for future spaceflight missions and build on efforts to develop therapeutic tools to treat neurodegenerative diseases on Earth. The European Space Agency is providing the use of the KUBIK facility of Columbus model of the ISS, for this ASI national contribution.

Credit: ASI /Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)

AstRNAuts
A multi-Organ signature of circulating (small) noncoding RNAs as early predictors to study the astronauts’ physiologic changes occurring in microgravity conditions.
AstRNAuts is a project led by ASI aimed to characterize distinctive molecular signatures of circulating biomarkers that are altered upon exposure to space, which will be monitored before and after the Ax-3 mission. The project is of great scientific interest to understand how space missions affect the human body in space, as these biomarkers could be used to monitor astronauts’ health status and develop point-of-care devices for diagnosis and prognosis of diseases.

Credit: ASI / Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali Cliniche "Mario Serio" dell'Università di Firenze

NUT
Profile of the alterations induced by stress conditions in short-duration space missions compared with the effects observed in submarine missions.
NUT is an ASI-led project to better understand the physiological adaptation mechanisms that human organisms put in place to cope with environmental conditions in space. In particular, the project will study the expression profile of different molecular markers before and after a human spaceflight mission by discriminating the effects induced by microgravity and cosmic rays from those caused by confinement, isolation, and psychophysical stress.

Credit: Dallara

Radiation Shielding Textiles
In partnership with the Italian race car engineering and manufacturing company Dallara, this project will measure the shielding capacity and effects of radiation on various advanced aerospace materials for spaceflight. The materials could be used to make components of future space stations, spacecraft, and spacesuits to help shield humans and hardware from space radiation.

Remote monitoring of the health status of astronauts
This project helps monitor the health status of an astronaut before, during, and after a human spaceflight mission. The Italian healthcare company GVM Assistance will utilize its telemedicine services to monitor in real-time an astronaut’s health, such as their cardiovascular system, and carry out on-orbit video consultations in microgravity. With the integration of GVM Assistance medical devices, it will enable the detection of bioparameters necessary to monitor the health of the astronaut, in which they will use the GVM Assistance Space Health application to connect with the GVM Assistance Medical Operations Center. By evaluating the trend of bioparameters during various moments of the mission, ground teams will be able to verify some of the effects of microgravity on the human body.

Credit: Mental Economy

Mental Economy
The Italian company Mental Economy has developed a training protocol for optimal mental performance "for all those who employ high neural energies in highly stressful and competitive contexts" - athletes, racecar drivers, special forces military staff, and others. Mental Economy Training™(MET) is the technique developed to enhance "neural efficiency" (or the ability for high mental performance with low energy expenditure). The goal of this project is to investigate whether specific skills and cognitive abilities (concentration, focused attention, reactivity, stress management, memory, and others) are affected by spaceflight and how MET™ could be implemented for future crew.

Axiom Space Releases Ax-3 Mission Patch

Download Patch

Mission patches are a symbolic expression of the mission objectives and a time-honored tradition dating back to the 1960s with the NASA Gemini program. They are designed and worn by the astronauts and people affiliated with each mission. Axiom Space continues the tradition with its commercial astronaut missions.

The Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) patch is shaped as a shield to illustrate strength and courage. The International Space Station (ISS) is centered and angled to be seen as aviator wings, symbolizing four astronauts piloting toward growth in low-Earth orbit (LEO) through the spirit of exploration and collaboration.

The Ax-3 crew is included at the forefront of the mission patch. The names of each crew member are seen in alphabetical order with flags of the countries they represent. The four stars next to the names represent the four European nations on the Ax-3 mission—Spain (Commander López-Alegría as a dual citizen of the U.S. and Spain), Türkiye, Italy, and Sweden.

The tiled Earth is shown with longitude and latitude lines to highlight the new frontier that the crew will explore and celebrate the power of bridging cultural divides to advance human knowledge and prosperity.

Located on the tiled Earth, toward the base of the patch, the number 100 denotes centennial milestones for Türkiye and Italy. Ax-3 will be a symbolic mission for Türkiye as the nation reflects on changes and progress made in the past century to advance economic development, education and technology, and the country’s global influence, now in space. This year, on March 28, 2023, the Italian Air Force celebrated its centennial anniversary as one of the oldest air forces in the world. This mission will serve as an opportunity to celebrate the Italian Air Force’s contribution to global security and stability.

The number 500 represents a jubilee year for Sweden as the country celebrated five centuries as an independent nation on June 6, 2023. The second Swedish ESA astronaut in history will fly to the space station during the Ax-3 mission, embodying opportunity and freedom to explore the unknown.

Located around the bottom edges of the patch, the mission’s moto “Further, Beyond” is written in Latin (PLVS VLTRA).

Ax-3 is the third commercial astronaut mission to the ISS and will carry the first crew of all-European national astronauts. With this crew, Europe is taking a visionary, leadership role in the future of commercial space.

Visit the Axiom Space store at merch.axiomspace.com to purchase Ax-3 merchandise.

Ax-3 Mission to Expand Government-Sponsored Research in Low-Earth Orbit

Ax-3 Pilot Walter Villadei practicing research operations in the HERA glovebox.

Axiom Space announced today further details on the groundbreaking science research and technology demonstrations planned for the upcoming Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) to the International Space Station (ISS). The Ax-3 crewmembers will represent their nations and perform scientific experiments and demonstrations in low-Earth orbit (LEO) that are of high national importance. 

Axiom Space is also partnering with many scientific organizations to continue understanding the effects of spaceflight on the human body as well as explore opportunities of applied research in space to benefit health and medical treatments on Earth.

The Ax-3 astronauts will conduct more than 30 different experiments during their mission. Human research data collected on the ground before and after the mission as well as in flight will improve understanding of human physiology on Earth and in microgravity. Furthermore, this mission will harness opportunities for industrial advancements and develop technologies for humanity’s progress.

Unique to this mission, there is a strong focus on scientific portfolios led by European countries represented on the Ax-3 mission, to include Italy, Türkiye, and Sweden in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA). Commercial and academic partnership activities also remain a strong focus for the Ax-3 mission, as Axiom Space leads in building a global research community and robust and sustainable economic ecosystem in LEO. 

The Ax-3 crewmembers are Commander Michael López-Alegría of the US/Spain, Pilot Walter Villadei of the Italian Air Force, and Mission Specialists Alper Gezeravcı of Türkiye and Marcus Wandt of Sweden/ESA.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Ax-3 crew aboard a Dragon spacecraft to the ISS no earlier than January 2024 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 

SELECT AX-3 MISSION INVESTIGATIONS  

Italy

The Italian portfolio consists of experiments led by the Italian Air Force (ItAF) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), involving Italian universities, research centers, and companies wishing to leverage microgravity for biological and technological testing and development.

Evaluation of Endothelial Function in Personnel Exposed to Microgravity During Orbital Flight Activity
As human research led by ItAF, the endothelial function experiment will use a technique to assess the vascular health and reactivity of astronauts before, during, and after spaceflight. The results will be compared to measurements from non-orbital flight personnel. The goal of this project is to better understand how vascular health changes during space missions to enhance knowledge related to future long-duration human spaceflight missions.

Amyloid Aggregation Upgrade
Led by ASI, this project builds on previous work in microgravity to investigate the aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ) proteins, which are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Microgravity can disrupt the normal folding and unfolding of proteins, leading to the formation of misfolded proteins that are more likely to aggregate. Analyzing these proteins in microgravity provides an opportunity to better understand the mechanism of their aggregation and the formation of amyloid plaques, which can ultimately help develop new treatments. The research could also help identify potential risks for neurodegeneration for long-duration human spaceflight missions.

Italian Space Operations Centre (ISOC) services for ISS
The ISOC services for ISS experiment aims to improve real-time space awareness with decentralized capabilities, providing an up-to-date space object catalogue and state-of-the-art algorithms to manage space safety. Using the systems onboard the ISS, ISOC will test the remote collection and process data needed to avoid collisions with resident space objects and to protect instrumentation from severe solar events.

Türkiye 

Led by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK) and Turkish Space Agency (TUA), the Turkish portfolio has a strong focus on advanced technological development of novel hardware and capabilities to further advance Türkiye’s goals as a space-faring nation and build on its successes in satellite development.

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR-Gem)
CRISPR is a groundbreaking genetic editing scientific technique that can be used to increase, decrease, insert, or remove genes from organisms. This work builds on previous microgravity research showing how microgravity affects the growth, movement, and genetics of plants, and could provide valuable insights into plant adaptation to extreme environments and help develop more resilient crops for agriculture.

Vokalkord
The Vokalkord experiment will focus on developing an artificial intelligence system to detect over 70 types of disease by analyzing audio data on respiratory, speaking, and cough sounds. This project further develops their software for use on Earth as a tool to identify and diagnose lung cancers, voice and vocal cord diseases, infectious diseases, and even cardiovascular and eye disease. This project also aims for the further development of a telemedicine application that can be used in space missions and space tourism.

Innovative Research on Novel Space Alloys (UYNA)
The UYNA experiment will investigate novel medium entropy and high entropy alloys (MEAs and HEAs respectively). These types of metal alloys are characterized by their high strength, toughness, and resistance to corrosion, and are of interest for potential applications in many industries, including space, aviation, automotive, energy, and medicine. The data from this experiment will help to improve our understanding of the formation and properties of MEA/HEA alloys, which could lead to the development of new and improved materials for a variety of applications.

ESA/Sweden

With a well-established and strong history in spaceflight, the ESA portfolio consists of projects and experiments that will continue to build on ESA’s mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capabilities and bring value to the citizens of Europe and the world.

The Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air-2 (ANITA-2)
The ANITA-2 project will sample air from the atmosphere on the ISS and automatically analyze trace contaminants. The system can recognize and quantify 33 trace gases via infrared light and identify unknown substances for additional analysis on the ground. This ongoing ESA project is part of ESA's technology development efforts for safe spaceflight in LEO and beyond.

Multi-Avatar and Robots Collaborating with Intuitive Interface (Surface Avatar)
The ESA-led Surface Avatar project is focused on developing robotic assets for space exploration, building infrastructure on planets and asteroids, and optimizing processes for data connections and communications relays. The applications of this project are also useful in scenarios such as arctic exploration, search and rescue in disaster zones, and under-sea maintenance.

Orbital Architecture
Architecture has been known to play a crucial role in shaping the physical and social environments, and it directly impacts human physical and psychological well-being. This study aims to investigate the effects of architectural settings, and their properties on astronaut’s cognitive performance, stress levels, and stress recovery rate. More specifically this activity looks to study if effects between the above-mentioned factors, observed in isolated and confined environments on Earth, and especially in space analog missions, are similarly observed in the environment of a space station.

Partnerships

As for previous missions, Axiom Space has partnered with many scientific organizations to continue to monitor the effects of spaceflight on the human body as well as explore opportunities of applied research in space to benefit health and medical treatments on Earth. Biological investigations into the development and treatment of certain cancers and neurological disorders are a strong focus for Ax-3.

National Stem Cell Foundation
Brain organoids are small 3D aggregates of neural cells that can be used to explore how the human nervous system develops or starts to degenerate. The Cosmic Brain Organoids project will use brain organoids derived from the stem cells of patients with the neurodegenerative diseases Parkinson's Disease and primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis to assess how microgravity affects the cells and uncover cellular pathways that could suggest novel therapeutic interventions for neurodegenerative diseases on Earth.

 Sanford Stem Cell Institute
The Cancer in LEO project from the Sanford Stem Cell Institute (SSCI), in partnership with Axiom Space, is studying tumor organoids in microgravity with the aim of identifying the early warning signs of cancer for prediction and prevention of the disease. This project is part of the expanded Integrated Space Stem Cell Orbital Research (ISSCOR) collaboration between the Sanford Stem Cell Institute, JM Foundation, and Axiom Space, which aims to use microgravity to further understand stem cells, cancer, and aging-related effects in space to develop better prediction of disease and therapeutics for patients on Earth.

Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) Essential Measures
Following research conducted on Ax-1 and Ax-2, Axiom Space continues to work with TRISH to gather human physiological, behavioral, and biological data on how humans, especially commercial spaceflight participants, adapt to space. Results can also help inform Earth-based research into eye or movement disorders and the cognitive and emotional impacts of isolated, confined, or stressful environments.

Bodewell Skincare Study
The Bodewell Skincare study on Ax-3, sponsored by Procter and Gamble, will look at how effective Bodewell moisturizing cream—a specially-developed skin care product for people with eczema and psoriasis—is for preventing skin challenges that astronauts may experience in microgravity. 

Axiom Space and its partners will be releasing more details on the research conducted during the  Ax-3 mission in the weeks to come; you can find more information here.

Axiom Space to Hold Media Roundtable with Ax-3 Crew

Axiom Space will hold a virtual media roundtable with the astronauts of Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), the first all-European commercial astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The roundtable will give the Ax-3 crew an opportunity to highlight their experiences leading up to the mission, discuss their preparedness, and explain the mission objectives; this will be the first opportunity for reporters to engage with the full Ax-3 crew. 

In an historic venture, three countries – Italy, Türkiye, and Sweden through the European Space Agency (ESA) – have united for Ax-3. Axiom Space’s Chief Astronaut Michael López-Alegría (dual citizen of the U.S. and Spain), former NASA astronaut and Axiom Mission 1 commander, will serve as the Ax-3 commander. Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are Alper Gezeravcı of Türkiye and European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut Marcus Wandt of Sweden.

As part of Ax-3, Türkiye is sending its first astronaut to space in a larger effort to expand the nation’s space exploration capabilities and establish a national human spaceflight program. Ax-3 will also be the first commercial spaceflight mission for an ESA-sponsored astronaut. For Italy, the Ax-3 mission represents a whole-of-country effort to foster its endeavor for safe, secure, and effective access to space. 

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Ax-3 crew aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the ISS from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than January 2024. Once docked, the Ax-3 astronauts plan to spend up to 14 days on board implementing a full mission comprised of microgravity research, educational outreach, and commercial activities.

Ax-3 Crew Media Roundtable
Monday, October 16 at 9:00am CT

Participants include:

• Michael López-Alegría, Ax-3 Commander, Axiom Space, U.S. and Spain 

• Walter Villadei, Ax-3 Pilot, Italy

• Alper Gezeravcı, Ax-3 Mission Specialist, Türkiye

• Marcus Wandt, Ax-3 Mission Specialist, ESA/Sweden

Media must register to participate and RSVP by 12:00pm CT on October 13. After registering, media will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the virtual roundtable.

Register here for the Ax-3 media roundtable: https://axiomspace.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uj8-ZE2GSIWh1tVPUY1VTg

Follow along for mission updates with #Ax3 on X, Instagram, and Facebook, and on our website.

Axiom Space Announces Astronauts for Third Mission to ISS

First all-European commercial astronaut mission to launch no earlier than January 2024

Ax-3 Commander Michael López-Alegría (left), Pilot Walter Villadei, Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravcı, and Mission Specialist Marcus Wandt. Download

Today, Axiom Space announced the full crew complement for its third mission, Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), to the International Space Station (ISS), after receiving NASA and ISS-partner approval for the four-person, multi-national team to travel to the orbiting laboratory no earlier than January 2024.

Ax-3 will be the first all-European commercial astronaut mission to launch to the ISS – redefining the pathway to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and helping chart a course toward Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station.

In an historic venture, three countries – Italy, Türkiye, and Sweden through the European Space Agency (ESA) – have united for Ax-3, with Axiom Space’s Chief Astronaut and Commander Michael López-Alegría leading the commercial mission, representing both the U.S. and Spain as a dual-citizen. The Ax-3 pilot is Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei, and the two mission specialists are Alper Gezeravcı of Türkiye and ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt of Sweden. Villadei, Gezeravcı, and Wandt have extensive flight crew experience and have all served in their nation’s Air Forces.

“It is an honor to command another private astronaut mission with Axiom Space and lead a dynamic crew of professional operators representing several nations across one region of the world,” said López-Alegría, former NASA astronaut and Ax-1 commander. “This crew is shifting the paradigm of how governments and space agencies access and reap the benefits of microgravity. The Ax-3 mission will be transformational as it fosters partnerships outside the construct of the ISS and positions European nations as pioneers of the emerging commercial space industry. I look forward to working with this team and with all those who will support our mission on the ground, on orbit, and around the world.”

As part of Ax-3, Türkiye is sending its first astronaut to space in a larger effort to expand the nation’s space exploration capabilities and establish a national human spaceflight program. Ax-3 will also be the first commercial spaceflight mission for an ESA-sponsored astronaut. For Italy, the Ax-3 mission represents a whole-of-country effort to foster its endeavor for safe, secure, and effective access to space. 

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Ax-3 crew aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the ISS from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Once docked, the Ax-3 astronauts plan to spend up to 14 days on board implementing a full mission comprised of microgravity research, educational outreach, and commercial activities.

Axiom Space is currently the commercial space industry’s only full-service orbital mission provider conducting end-to-end crewed missions for private astronauts, both private individuals and those sponsored by governments. Axiom Space's broad range of services – in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX – includes training and flying private astronauts, access to training facilities and instructors, hardware and safety certification, and operational on-orbit management.

Candidates for flight complete Axiom Space's rigorous training curriculum over many months in preparation to live and work in space. The expert team at Axiom Space is helping nations and organizations build human spaceflight programs, develop astronaut selection programs, and provide the expertise needed to expand the international community of space explorers to a larger and more diverse representation of humanity. 

Axiom Space is leveraging the capabilities and resources of the ISS to build the world’s first commercial space station, where access to space moves beyond the partners of the ISS to include countries, institutions, industries, and individuals with new ideas fueling a human economy beyond Earth. Private astronaut missions to the International Space Station are a precursor to Axiom Station and part of the efforts to develop a thriving LEO ecosystem and global space marketplace.