Axiom_Mission_3

Axiom Mission 3

Axiom Mission 3

2024 private crewed spaceflight to the ISS

Axiom Mission 3 (or Ax-3) was a private spaceflight to the International Space Station. The flight launched on 18 January 2024,[1] and lasted for 21 days, successfully splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean.[3] It was operated by Axiom Space and used a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.[4] The booster, B1080, had previously flown Axiom-2, among other high-profile missions.[5]

"Ax-3" redirects here. For other topics, see AX3.
Quick Facts Names, Mission type ...

Crew

All four crewmembers have backgrounds as military pilots.[6] Michael López-Alegría was the commander as an employee of Axiom; Walter Villadei from the Italian Air Force was the mission pilot.[7] The mission specialists were Alper Gezeravcı who was the first astronaut from Turkey;[8][9] and Swedish project astronaut Marcus Wandt ("project astronaut" is ESA's designation for an astronaut assigned to a project), who was the first member of the 2022 European Space Agency Astronaut Group to receive a spaceflight mission. It was also the first commercial spaceflight mission for an ESA sponsored astronaut.[10] Wandt's component of the mission is called "Muninn"[11][12] as it overlaps with fellow Scandinavian ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen's mission – "Huginn".[13]

More information Position, Astronaut ...

Backup crew

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Mission

The crew lifted off on a Falcon 9 from LC-39A Florida to dock with the International Space Station for an intended mission duration of approximately two weeks.[14] Final mission duration was 21 days; mission ended with a splashdown into the Atlantic Ocean on 9 February 2024.

Axiom Mission 3
  • Launch of Axiom-3
  • Axiom-3 approaching the ISS
  • Axiom-3 docked to the ISS


References

  1. [1]
    "Falcon 9 Block 5 - Axiom Mission 3 (AX-3)". Next Spaceflight. December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  2. [2]
    "Ax-3 Docks to Station Aboard Dragon Spacecraft - Space Station". NASA. January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  3. [3]
    "NASA Selects Axiom Space for Third Private Astronaut Station Mission". NASA (Press release). March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  4. [4]
    "Axiom and SpaceX sign blockbuster deal". Axiom Space. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  5. [5]
    Jones, Caleb. "Space Launch Now - B1080". Space Launch Now. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  6. [6]
    Foust, Jeff (October 18, 2023). "Axiom Space refines training for next private astronaut mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  7. [7]
    Space, Air Force and Axiom agreements on the Ax-3 mission
  8. [8]
    Roulette, Joey (September 21, 2022). "Exclusive: Saudi Arabia buys pair of SpaceX astronaut seats from Axiom -sources". Reuters. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  9. [9]
    Pons, Juan (September 28, 2022). "Saudi Arabia and Turkey compete to get a woman astronaut into orbit as soon as possible". Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  10. [10]
    "Axiom Space Announces Astronauts for Third Mission to ISS". Axiom Space. September 12, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  11. [11]
    "Muninn mission patch and name". European Space Agency. June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023..
  12. [12]
    "Muninn Launch kit" (PDF). European Space Agency. November 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2024..
  13. [13]
    "The Huginn mission – an overview". www.esa.int. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  14. [14]
    Axiom Space refines training for next private astronaut mission, 18 October 2023.
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