Former Axiom Space CEO Michael T. Suffredini was previously the program manager for the International Space Station (ISS) from 2005 to 2015.[9] After retiring from NASA, Suffredini and Kam Ghaffarian started Axiom Space to target the emerging commercial spaceflight market. Ghaffarian is an engineer and entrepreneur who sold his company, Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc., a large NASA contractor, to KBR in 2018.[10] Ghaffarian is also the Executive Chairman of Quantum Space.
The company was selected by NASA to provide the first commercial destination module on the ISS.[11] Axiom Space also announced in March 2020 a contract with SpaceX to fly commercial astronauts to the ISS via Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon scheduled for March 2022; the launch took place on 8 April 2022[12] and the crew returned on 25 April.[13]
The modules constructed by Axiom Space are designed to commercially provide services and products in the low Earth orbit economy. The "Axiom Segment" of the station was planned, as of January2020[update], to include a node module to act as a connector, a research and manufacturing facility, a crew habitat, and a "large-windowed" module for viewing the Earth.[18] In December 2024, Axiom Space revised their station assembly plans to require only the first module, the Payload Power Thermal Module (PPTM), to dock with the ISS before separating in 2028 to join with the Habitat One (Hab-1) module in a separate orbit.[19]
Before the ISS is retired in 2030, the company plans to assemble and operate an independent space station, Axiom Station. Axiom Space plans to have the modules individually launched and assembled in orbit, with the first attaching to the ISS.[19] The company is currently targeting 2027 for the launch of its first module, PPTM, and the late-2020s to early-2030s for station completion. Following the launch of the second module, Hab-1, and the separation of PPTM from the ISS to join with Hab-1, Axiom Station will function as an independent free-flying space station.[19]As of December 2024[update], five modules are manifested on Axiom Station's assembly roadmap.[19]
Axiom Space plans to conduct astronaut training for commercial astronauts, to host governments and commercial partners. The first module is expected to dock to one of two ISS ports currently used for cargo spacecraft.[19]Canadarm2 may continue its operations on Axiom Station after the retirement of the ISS.[20][21]
The Future Axiom Earth Observatory interior (Artist's illustration of the model designed by Philippe Starck)
The interior of Axiom Station was designed in 2018 by French architect Philippe Starck. Renderings of the habitat show a chamber with walls that are covered with tufted padding and studded with hundreds of colour-changing LEDs.[22] Axiom Space has publicly stated an intent to maintain at least one astronaut in the station continuously,[when?] who will be assigned to take care of research projects and station repairs.[23] This includes amenities like high-speed Wi-Fi, video screens, picture windows, and a glass-walled cupola.[24]
Human spaceflight
Axiom Space provides human spaceflight services to people, corporations, and space agencies. Missions to the International Space Station are offered by Axiom Space, with a 10-day mission including 15 weeks of training.[25] In addition to training, Axiom Space states that the packages include mission planning, hardware development, life support, medical support, crew provisions, hardware and safety certifications, on-orbit operations, and mission management.[26] Missions could extend for longer periods depending on the focus of the spaceflight. Former NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Michael López-Alegría are employees and serve as commanders of missions.[27][28]
Ax-2 was a private crew mission to the ISS. The flight launched on 21 May 2023 and sent four people to the ISS.[38] On 25 May 2021, Axiom Space announced that former NASA AstronautPeggy Whitson would be the mission commander and John Shoffner would be the mission pilot.[39] Two astronauts from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ali Alqarni[40][41] and Rayyanah Barnawi[42][43] were also on board as mission specialists.
Ax-3 was a private crew mission to the ISS. The flight launched on 18 January 2024 and sent four people to the ISS. Former NASA AstronautMichael López-Alegría was the mission commander and Walter Villadei was the mission pilot. Two astronauts from Turkey and Sweden, Alper Gezeravcı and Marcus Wandt were also on board as mission specialists.
Ax-4 is a private crew mission to the ISS. The flight launched on 25 June 2025 and carried four people to the ISS,[44] including veteran Axiom astronaut, Commander Peggy Whitson. With a crew consisting of Indian mission pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, from Poland, and Tibor Kapu, from Hungary.[45]
Ax-5 is a planned private crew mission to the ISS that will launch no earlier than May 2026.[46]
Axiom Mission Control Center
In January 2022, the Axiom Space Mission Control Center (or MCC-A) completed its first on-orbit science payload operation on the ISS. At this time, MCC-A, located at Axiom's HQ in Houston, TX, was registered as a payload operations site. In April 2022, MCC-A supported a record number of on-orbit science payload operations and live on-orbit events for Axiom's Ax-1 mission to ISS, which was the first all-private mission to the ISS. In late 2022, Axiom's MCC-A became a certified ISS partner Mission Control Center, connected to NASA's ISS program, joining a small handful of International partner MCCs and SpaceX's MCC. In May 2023, Axiom Space flew their second mission to ISS, Ax-2, supported entirely out of MCC-A by an Axiom Space flight control team of 6-10 flight controllers.[47]
First Crew Dragon flight contracted by Axiom Space. First fully private flight to the ISS, carrying Michael López-Alegría as Axiom professional astronaut,[50]Eytan Stibbe to conduct educational experiments for a 17-day trip,[51][52]Larry Connor and Mark Pathy, both heading investment companies.[50]
Second Crew Dragon flight contracted by Axiom Space.[55] Second fully private flight to the ISS, carrying Peggy Whitson as Axiom professional astronaut.
Third Crew Dragon flight contracted by Axiom Space, astronauts are three military pilots whose flight is financed by their respective nations (Italy, Turkey and Sweden).
First SpaceShipTwo flight contracted by Axiom Space. Tuva Atasever was trained as a backup for AX-3 before being selected for this mission, and was the only Axiom astronaut aboard.[59][60]
Success
Space suit
Future NASA contracted suits
On 1 June 2022, NASA announced it had selected Axiom Space to develop and provide astronauts with next generation spacesuit and spacewalk systems to first test and later use outside the International Space Station, as well as on the lunar surface for the crewed Artemis missions, and prepare for human missions to Mars.[61][62]
International collaboration
On 25 June 2025, Axiom Space and India's Skyroot Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on expanding access to low-Earth orbit.[63] For future missions to Axiom Station and beyond, both companies will investigate combined orbital and launch technologies.[64] In order to build space infrastructure, the two companies will work on collaborative ventures.[65] The collaboration aims to establish a new logistical corridor for research payloads, orbital data-center nodes, and future commercial missions by linking Skyroot's planned Vikram-1 launch capability with Axiom's under-construction commercial space station and other low-Earth-orbit projects.[66]
↑ Donaldson, Abbey A. "NASA Selects Axiom Space for Another Private Space Mission in 2024". News Release. NASA. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024. expected to spend up to 14 days docked to the space station … The order also accommodates up to seven contingency days aboard the space station.
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