Axiom Space

Last updated

Axiom Space, Inc.
Company type Private incorporated company
Industry Aerospace
Founded2016;8 years ago (2016)
FounderMichael T. Suffredini
Kam Ghaffarian [1]
Headquarters
Houston, Texas
United States
Key people
Services
Number of employees
790 (2023)
Website axiomspace.com
Footnotes /references
[2]

Axiom Space, Inc., also known as Axiom Space, is an American privately funded space infrastructure developer headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Contents

Founded in 2016 by Michael T. Suffredini and Kam Ghaffarian, the company first flew a spaceflight in 2022: Axiom Mission 1, the first commercially crewed private spaceflight to the International Space Station. The company aims to own and operate the world's first commercial space station in the late 2020s. [3] [4] The company's employees include former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden [5] and astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria, Peggy Whitson, Brent W. Jett Jr and Koichi Wakata. [6]

The company sent its first commercial astronauts into orbit in 2022. It also plans human spaceflight for government-funded and commercial astronauts engaging in in-space research, in-space manufacturing, and space exploration. [7]

History

Michael Suffredini in 2012 Michael Suffredini (cropped).jpg
Michael Suffredini in 2012

Axiom Space CEO Michael T. Suffredini was previously the program manager for the International Space Station from 2005 to 2015. [8] 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. [9] Ghaffarian is also the Executive Chairman of Quantum Space.

The company was selected by NASA to provide the first commercial destination module on the International Space Station. [10] Axiom Space also announced in March 2020 a contract with SpaceX to fly commercial astronauts to the International Space Station via Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon scheduled for March 2022; the launch took place on 8 April 2022 [11] and the crew returned on 25 April. [12]

The company had 110 employees as of February 2021, [13] with offices located in Houston and Los Angeles.[ citation needed ] [14]

NASA contract for ISS modules

Artist's rendering of Axiom modules connected to ISS Axiom modules connected to ISS.jpg
Artist's rendering of Axiom modules connected to ISS

In 2020, as part of the broader Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) cislunar initiative, NASA awarded Axiom a US$140 million contract to provide at least one habitable spacecraft to attach to the International Space Station. [10] Axiom Space was the only selected proposal from the solicitation process due in 2019. [15] Bigelow Aerospace did not submit a proposal and has subsequently ceased operations. [16]

The modules constructed by Axiom Space are designed to attach to the Harmony forward port with the intent to demonstrate an ability to commercially provide services and products in the low Earth orbit economy. The "Axiom Segment" of the station was planned, as of January 2020, 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. [17]

Axiom Station

Axiom Station intends to have its spacecraft modules individually launched and assembled in orbit, first attaching to the International Space Station. Before ISS retirement (and atmospheric reentry), the company plans to detach its modules and commence orbit on its own as Axiom Station. [18] [19] Axiom Space renderings from 2020 illustrate how modules might be berthed and relocated on the ISS by the Mobile Servicing System, specifically the Canadarm2. Canadarm2 might also continue its operations on the Axiom Space Station after the retirement of the ISS in the late 2020s. [20] [21] The company is currently targeting late 2026 for the launch of its first module to the ISS and the late-2020s for station completion. [22] [3]

Axiom Space plans to conduct astronaut training for commercial astronauts, to host governments and commercial partners. Up to three Axiom Space modules could attach to the International Space Station. The first module is expected to dock to the forward port of Harmony, which would require relocation of the PMA-2. Axiom Space plans to attach up to two additional modules to its initial core module and send private astronauts to visit the modules. [1]

The Future Axiom Earth Observatory interior (Artist's illustration of the model designed by Philippe Starck) Axiom Earth Observatory interior.jpg
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. [23] 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. [24] This includes amenities like high-speed Wi-Fi, video screens, picture windows, and a glass-walled cupola. [25]

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. [26] 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. [27] 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. [28] [29]

In June 2020, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said NASA was involved with the filming of a Tom Cruise movie to the ISS [30] with SpaceX expected to be the transportation partner for the flights. [31]

In-space research and manufacturing

Crystals grown in microgravity Crystals grown in microgravity.jpg
Crystals grown in microgravity

Axiom Space intends to commercialize microgravity research and development, using the ISS National Lab until its modules are operational.[ citation needed ]

Missions

In early June 2021, Axiom Space announced a deal with SpaceX which added three additional crewed flights to the ISS, for a total of four. [32]

Axiom Mission 1 at LC-39A undergoing pre-launch preparations Axiom Mission 1 Static Fire (NHQ202204060008).jpg
Axiom Mission 1 at LC-39A undergoing pre-launch preparations

Ax-1

Axiom Mission 1 (or Ax-1) [33] was a privately funded and operated crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was operated by Axiom Space out of Axiom's Mission Control Center MCC-A [34] in Houston, Texas. The flight launched on 8 April 2022 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. [35] The spacecraft used was a SpaceX Crew Dragon. The crew consisted of Michael López-Alegría, [36] a Spaniard-American and a professionally trained astronaut hired by Axiom, Eytan Stibbe [37] from Israel, [38] Larry Connor from the United States, [38] and Mark Pathy from Canada. [38]

Ax-2

Ax-2 was a private crew mission to the ISS. The flight launched on 21 May 2023 and sent four people to the ISS. [39] On 25 May 2021, Axiom Space announced that former NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson would be the mission commander and John Shoffner would be the mission pilot. [40] Two astronauts from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ali Alqarni [41] [42] and Rayyanah Barnawi [43] [44] were also on board as mission specialists.

Ax-3

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 Astronaut Michael 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

Ax-4 is a planned private crew mission to the ISS. The flight will launch no earlier than spring 2025 and carry four people to the ISS, [45] including veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson. The crew will include a Polish, a Hungarian and an Indian astronaut. [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]

Flights

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. [59] [60]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Space Station</span> Inhabited space station in low Earth orbit (1998–present)

The International Space Station (ISS) is a large space station that was assembled and is maintained in low Earth orbit by a collaboration of five space agencies and their contractors: NASA, Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada). The ISS is the largest space station ever built. Its primary purpose is to perform microgravity and space environment experiments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space station</span> Habitable artificial satellite

A space station is a spacecraft which remains in orbit and hosts humans for extended periods of time. It therefore is an artificial satellite featuring habitation facilities. The purpose of maintaining a space station varies depending on the program. Most often space stations have been research stations, but they have also served military or commercial uses, such as hosting space tourists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael López-Alegría</span> Spanish-American astronaut (born 1958)

Michael López-Alegría is an astronaut, test pilot and commercial astronaut with dual nationality, American and Spanish; a veteran of three Space Shuttle missions and one International Space Station mission. He is known for having performed ten spacewalks so far in his career, presently holding the second longest all-time EVA duration record and having the fifth-longest spaceflight of any American at the length of 215 days; this time was spent on board the ISS from September 18, 2006, to April 21, 2007. López-Alegría commanded Axiom-1, the first ever all-private team of commercial astronaut mission to the International Space Station, which launched on April 8, 2022, and spent just over 17 days in Earth's orbit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peggy Whitson</span> American astronaut and biochemistry researcher (born 1960)

Peggy Annette Whitson is an American biochemistry researcher, and astronaut working for Axiom Space. She retired from NASA in 2018, after serving as Chief Astronaut. Over all her missions, Whitson has a total of 665 days in space, more than any other American or woman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koichi Wakata</span> Japanese engineer and astronaut (born 1963)

Koichi Wakata is a Japanese engineer and an astronaut working for Axiom Space. He retired from JAXA in 2024. Wakata is a veteran of four NASA Space Shuttle missions, a Russian Soyuz mission, and a long-duration stay on the International Space Station. During a nearly two-decade career in spaceflight, he has logged more than five hundred days in space. During Expedition 39, he became the first Japanese commander of the International Space Station. Wakata flew on the Soyuz TMA-11M/Expedition 38/Expedition 39 long duration spaceflight from 7 November 2013 to 13 May 2014. During this spaceflight he was accompanied by Kirobo, the first humanoid robot astronaut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assembly of the International Space Station</span> Process of assembling the International Space Station

The process of assembling the International Space Station (ISS) has been under way since the 1990s. Zarya, the first ISS module, was launched by a Proton rocket on 20 November 1998. The STS-88 Space Shuttle mission followed two weeks after Zarya was launched, bringing Unity, the first of three node modules, and connecting it to Zarya. This bare 2-module core of the ISS remained uncrewed for the next one and a half years, until in July 2000 the Russian module Zvezda was launched by a Proton rocket, allowing a maximum crew of three astronauts or cosmonauts to be on the ISS permanently.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Space Station programme</span> Ongoing space research program

The International Space Station programme is tied together by a complex set of legal, political and financial agreements between the fifteen nations involved in the project, governing ownership of the various components, rights to crewing and utilisation, and responsibilities for crew rotation and resupply of the International Space Station. It was conceived in September 1993 by the United States and Russia after 1980s plans for separate American (Freedom) and Soviet (Mir-2) space stations failed due to budgetary reasons. These agreements tie together the five space agencies and their respective International Space Station programmes and govern how they interact with each other on a daily basis to maintain station operations, from traffic control of spacecraft to and from the station, to utilisation of space and crew time. In March 2010, the International Space Station Program Managers from each of the five partner agencies were presented with Aviation Week's Laureate Award in the Space category, and the ISS programme was awarded the 2009 Collier Trophy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing Starliner</span> Class of partially reusable crew capsules

The Boeing Starliner is a spacecraft designed to transport crew to and from the International Space Station (ISS) and other low-Earth-orbit destinations. Developed by Boeing under NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP), it consists of a reusable crew capsule and an expendable service module.

<i>Leonardo</i> (ISS module) Italian module of the International Space Station

Leonardo, also known as the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) is a module of the International Space Station. It was flown into space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-133 on 24 February 2011 and installed on 1 March. Leonardo is primarily used for storage of spares, supplies and waste on the ISS, which was until then stored in many different places within the space station. It is also the personal hygiene area for the astronauts who live in the US Orbital Segment. The Leonardo PMM was a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) before 2011, then was modified into its current configuration. It was formerly one of two MPLM used for bringing cargo to and from the ISS with the Space Shuttle. The module was named for Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX Dragon 2</span> 2020s class of partially reusable spacecraft

Dragon 2 is a class of partially reusable spacecraft developed, manufactured, and operated by American space company SpaceX for flights to the International Space Station (ISS) and private spaceflight missions. The spacecraft, which consists of a reusable space capsule and an expendable trunk module, has two variants: the 4-person Crew Dragon and Cargo Dragon, a replacement for the Dragon 1 cargo capsule. The spacecraft launches atop a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, and the capsule returns to Earth through splashdown. Since 2020, when Dragon 2 flew its first crewed and uncrewed flights, it has proven to be the most cost-effective spacecraft ever used by NASA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axiom Mission 1</span> 2022 private crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Axiom Mission 1 was a privately funded and operated crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was operated by Axiom Space out of Axiom's Mission Control Center MCC-A in Houston, Texas. The flight launched on 8 April 2022 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The spacecraft used was a SpaceX Crew Dragon. The crew consisted of Michael López-Alegría, a Spaniard-American and a professionally trained astronaut hired by Axiom, Eytan Stibbe from Israel, Larry Connor from the United States, and Mark Pathy from Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axiom Orbital Segment</span> Planned ISS component

Axiom Orbital Segment or Axiom Segment are the planned modular components of the International Space Station (ISS) designed by Houston, Texas-based Axiom Space for commercial space activities. Axiom Space gained initial NASA approval for the venture in January 2020. Axiom Space was later awarded the contract by NASA on February 28, 2020. This orbital station will be separated from the ISS to become a modular space station, Axiom Station, after the ISS is decommissioned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axiom Mission 2</span> 2023 private crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Axiom Mission 2 was a private crewed spaceflight operated by Axiom Space. Ax-2 was launched on 21 May 2023 on a SpaceX Falcon 9, successfully docking with the International Space Station (ISS) on 22 May. After eight days docked to the ISS, the Dragon crew capsule Freedom undocked and returned to Earth twelve hours later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX Crew-6</span> 2023 American crewed spaceflight to the ISS

SpaceX Crew-6 was the sixth crewed operational NASA Commercial Crew flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft, and the ninth overall crewed orbital flight. The mission launched on 2 March 2023 at 05:34:14 UTC, and it successfully docked to the International Space Station (ISS) on 3 March 2023 at 06:40 UTC. The Crew-6 mission transported four crew members to the International Space Station (ISS). Two NASA astronauts, a United Arab Emirates astronaut, and a Russian cosmonaut were assigned to the mission. The two NASA astronauts are Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg. The cosmonaut, Andrey Fedyaev, was reassigned from Soyuz MS-23. Sultan Al Neyadi was the commander of the United Arab Emirates' mission on the flight.

Crew Dragon <i>Freedom</i> SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft

Crew Dragon Freedom is the fourth operational Crew Dragon reusable spacecraft manufactured and operated by SpaceX. It first launched on 27 April 2022 to the International Space Station (ISS) on the SpaceX Crew-4 mission. It was subsequently used for two private spaceflight missions to the ISS operated by Axiom Space, Axiom Mission 2 in May 2023 and Axiom Mission 3 in January 2024. It most recently launched to space in September 2024 on the SpaceX Crew-9 mission. The capsule was named after the fundamental human right of freedom and the Freedom 7 capsule that took astronaut Alan Shepard on the first human spaceflight from the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axiom Mission 3</span> 2024 private crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Axiom Mission 3 was a private spaceflight to the International Space Station. The flight launched on 18 January 2024, and lasted for 21 days, successfully splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean. It was operated by Axiom Space and used a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. The booster, B1080, had previously flown Axiom-2, among other high-profile missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axiom Mission 4</span> Private crewed spaceflight to the International Space Station in 2025

Axiom Mission 4 is a private spaceflight to the International Space Station. The flight will launch no earlier than Spring 2025 and last about 14 days. It will be operated by Axiom Space and use a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

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