Axiom 3
Artists' impression of a Crew Dragon approaching the forward port of Harmony on the ISS
NamesAx-3
Mission typePrivate spaceflight to the ISS
OperatorAxiom Space
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeCrew Dragon Freedom
ManufacturerSpaceX
Launch mass12,519 kg (27,600 lb)
Landing mass9,616 kg (21,200 lb)
Crew
Crew size4
Members
Start of mission
Launch date17 January 2024[1]
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5 (B1080.5)
Launch siteKennedy Space Center, LC-39A
ContractorSpaceX
End of mission
Landing date2024 (planned)
Landing siteAtlantic Ocean
Docking with ISS
Docking portHarmony forward
Axiom 3 mission insignia
 

Axiom Mission 3 (or Ax-3) is a planned private spaceflight to the International Space Station. The flight, scheduled to launch on 17 January 2024,[1] and expected to last about 14 days,[2] will be operated by Axiom Space and be using a Crew Dragon spacecraft.[3]

Crew

All four members of the crew have backgrounds as military pilots.[4] Michael López-Alegría will be the commander as an employee of Axiom; Walter Villadei from the Italian Air Force will be the mission pilot.[5] The mission specialists are Alper Gezeravcı who will be the first astronaut from Turkey;[6][7] and Swedish Marcus Wandt is the first member of the 2022 European Space Agency Astronaut Group to receive a spaceflight mission. It is also "the first commercial spaceflight mission for an ESA-sponsored astronaut".[8] Wandt's component of the mission is called "Muninn"[9][10] as it will overlap with fellow-Scandinavian ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen's mission – "Huginn".[11] This will be the first orbital spaceflight mission where all crew members have European citizenship.[12]

Prime crew
Position Astronaut
Spacecraft commander United States / Spain Michael López-Alegría, Axiom Space
Sixth spaceflight
Pilot Italy Walter Villadei, MDD
Second spaceflight
Mission Specialist 1 Turkey Alper Gezeravcı, TSA
First spaceflight
Mission Specialist 2 Sweden Marcus Wandt, SNSA / ESA
First spaceflight

Backup crew

Position Astronaut
Spacecraft commander United States Peggy Whitson, Axiom Space
Mission Specialist Turkey Tuva Cihangir Atasever, TSA

Mission

The flight will lift off from Florida to dock with the International Space Station for an intended duration of two weeks.

References

  1. 1 2 "Falcon 9 Block 5 - Axiom Mission 3 (AX-3)". Next Spaceflight. December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  2. ↑ "NASA Selects Axiom Space for Third Private Astronaut Station Mission". NASA (Press release). March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Axiom and SpaceX sign blockbuster deal". Axiom Space. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  4. ↑ Foust, Jeff (October 18, 2023). "Axiom Space refines training for next private astronaut mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  5. ↑ Space, Air Force and Axiom agreements on the Ax-3 mission
  6. ↑ Roulette, Joey (September 21, 2022). "Exclusive: Saudi Arabia buys pair of SpaceX astronaut seats from Axiom -sources". Reuters. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "Axiom Space Announces Astronauts for Third Mission to ISS". Axiom Space. September 12, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Muninn mission patch and name". European Space Agency. June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023..
  10. ↑ "Muninn Launch kit" (PDF). European Space Agency. November 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2024..
  11. ↑ "The Huginn mission – an overview". www.esa.int. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Astronauts ready for first, all-European mission to the International Space Station – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved January 12, 2024.
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