SpaceLink hires Axiom to support ISS communications demonstrationby Debra Werner — February 17, 2022 [SN]
SpaceLink plans to establish a satellite constellation in medium Earth orbit to relay radio frequency and optical data between satellites in low Earth orbit and the ground. Credit: SpaceLinkSAN FRANCISCO — SpaceLink announced plans Feb. 17 to work with Axiom Space to conduct the first demonstration of its space data relay service on the International Space Station.
The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, manager of the ISS National Laboratory, awarded McLean, Virginia-based SpaceLink a contract to demonstrate data transmission from the Space Station through optical terminals at a rate of 10 gigabits per second.
https://spacenews.com/spacelink-taps-axiom-for-iss-demonstration/ISS operations remain normal ahead of private astronaut missionby Jeff Foust — March 1, 2022 [SN]
NASA said its working relationship with Roscosmos for ISS operations has not been affected by sanctions and related measures after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Credit: NASAWASHINGTON — NASA said that operations of the International Space Station remain normal despite the growing rift between Russia and the West in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
At a Feb. 28 briefing to discuss the upcoming Axiom Space Ax-1 commercial mission to the ISS, Kathy Lueders, NASA associate administrator for space operations, said ISS operations were unchanged despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine that prompted sanctions and related measures by the United States, Europe and others.
https://spacenews.com/iss-operations-remain-normal-ahead-of-private-astronaut-mission/Private mission ready for launch to the ISSby Jeff Foust — April 3, 2022 [SN]
The four private astronauts of Axiom Space’s Ax-1 mission, (from left) Mark Pathy, Larry Connor, Michael López-Alegría and Eytan Stibbe, are scheduled to launch April 6 on a Crew Dragon to the space station. Credit: Axiom SpaceWASHINGTON — The first private mission to the International Space Station by an American vehicle is scheduled to launch this week to serve as a first step in one company’s plans to establish a commercial space station.
Axiom Space is now targeting April 8 for the launch of its Ax-1 mission on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center. The company said late April 3 it had delayed the launch from April 6 but did not give a reason, although it came after NASA scrubbed a Space Launch System countdown test and rescheduled it for April 4. That Crew Dragon spacecraft, Endeavour, will spend 10 days in space, including eight docked to the ISS. There are additional launch opportunities daily through at least April 9.
https://spacenews.com/private-mission-ready-for-launch-to-the-iss/Launch of Axiom’s commercial space station mission delayed until FridayApril 4, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
Ax-1 pilot Larry Connor, commander Mike Lopez-Alegria, Mark Pathy, and Eytan Stibbe during a test with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Credit: SpaceXThe launch of the first all-private crew to the International Space Station has been delayed to Friday, officials announced late Monday. The four commercial space fliers will ride to the station on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
The mission, managed by the Houston company Axiom Space, was originally scheduled for launch in February, but delays in preparing the Crew Dragon spacecraft and schedule constraints with other visiting vehicles at the space station forced officials to move the launch date to late March.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/04/04/launch-of-axioms-commercial-space-station-mission-delayed-until-friday/Falcon 9 rocket test-fired for Axiom commercial crew missionApril 6, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
A Falcon 9 rocket fires its engines Wednesday at the Kennedy Space Center. Credit: Spaceflight NowSpaceX rolled a Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule to their launch pad Tuesday and test-fired the booster’s engines Wednesday at the Kennedy Space Center, setting up for launch Friday of four private space fliers on a 10-day mission to the International Space Station.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/04/06/falcon-9-axiom-1-static-fire/NASA’s SLS moon rocket, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 share the scene at Kennedy Space CenterApril 6, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
Seen from Cape Canaveral National Seashore on Wednesday, NASA’s Space Launch System (left) stands on pad 39B and a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket (right) stands on pad 39A. Credit: Stephen Clark / Spaceflight NowNASA’s Artemis 1 moon rocket and SpaceX’s Falcon 9 shared the scene Wednesday at the Kennedy Space Center — the first time since 2009 that rockets have stood on both pads at Launch Complex 39.
The Space Launch System is standing on pad 39B at Kennedy, where it is awaiting another countdown dress rehearsal ahead of NASA’s Artemis 1 mission, an unpiloted test flight to the moon with the Orion crew capsule.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/04/06/nasas-sls-moon-rocket-spacexs-falcon-9-share-the-scene-at-kennedy-space-center/Private astronaut mission cleared for launchby Jeff Foust — April 7, 2022 [SN]
A Falcon 9 carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft for the Ax-1 mission to the ISS stands on the pad at Launch Complex 39A with the first Space Launch System rocket in the background at Launch Complex 39B. Credit: NASA/Joel KowskyCOLORADO SPRINGS — The first commercial mission by an American spacecraft to the International Space Station is ready for launch as a pathfinder for a new era of commercial orbital human spaceflight.
At an April 7 briefing, officials from NASA, Axiom Space and SpaceX said the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Crew Dragon spacecraft are ready for launch at 11:17 a.m. Eastern April 8 from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. Forecasters are projecting a 90% chance of acceptable weather for the launch.
One issue still being looked at is weather at abort locations along the vehicle’s ascent to orbit off the East Coast and into the North Atlantic.
https://spacenews.com/private-astronaut-mission-cleared-for-launch/Historic Ax-1 Mission Primed for Friday Launch, Saturday ISS Dockingby Ben Evans April 7, 2022 [AS]
Seen here during its rollout to Pad 39A earlier this week, Dragon Endeavour will be embarking on her third voyage to the International Space Station (ISS) on Ax-1. Photo Credit: SpaceXThree entrepreneurs from three nations, together with America’s most experienced spacewalker, are primed to launch from historic Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida early Friday, bound for the first all-private crewed trip to the International Space Station (ISS).
https://www.americaspace.com/2022/04/07/historic-ax-1-mission-primed-for-friday-launch-saturday-iss-docking/SpaceX ready for launch of first all-commercial crew to space stationApril 7, 2022 William Harwood STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS & USED WITH PERMISSION [SFN]
Mark Pathy, Larry Connor, Mike Lopez-Alegria, and Eytan Stibbe at launch pad 39A during a dress rehearsal for launch of Axiom’s Ax-1 mission. Credit: SpaceXSpaceX and a Houston company are gearing up to launch four private citizens Friday on the first NASA-sanctioned, fully commercial flight to the International Space Station, a key step in a government push to encourage private-sector development on the high frontier.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/04/07/spacex-ready-for-launch-of-first-all-commercial-crew-to-space-station/SpaceX launches commercial mission to ISSby Jeff Foust — April 8, 2022 Updated 1:45 p.m. Eastern with comments from postlaunch press briefing. [SN]
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launches a Crew Dragon spacecraft with four private astronauts on board on the Ax-1 mission for Axiom Space April 8. Credit: NASA/Joel KowskyCOLORADO SPRINGS — SpaceX launched a Crew Dragon spacecraft April 8 carrying four commercial astronauts to the International Space Station for Axiom Space. (...)
“Our guys aren’t going up there and floating around for eight days taking pictures and looking out of the cupola,” said Derek Hassmann, operations director at Axiom Space, said at a prelaunch briefing April 7.
Accommodating that work, which also includes commercial activities and more than 50 hours of outreach activities, was a challenge to fit into the station’s overall schedule. “It was just a large amount of items to go through,” said Angela Hart, NASA commercial LEO program manager, at the postlaunch briefing. (...)
https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-commercial-mission-to-iss/First All-Private Mission Flies, Heads for Space Stationby Ben Evans April 8, 2022 [AS]
B4801062 powers uphill for her fifth mission. As such, she became the most flight-experienced rocket to launch a crew since the Space Shuttle era. Photo Credit: SpaceX/AxiomSpaceFor the first time since 2001, a spacecraft carrying representatives of four sovereign nations roared into orbit at 11:17 a.m. EDT Friday, bound for a Saturday morning docking at the International Space Station (ISS). Seasoned shuttle astronaut, veteran ISS commander and America’s most experienced spacewalker Mike Lopez-Alegria—of Spanish heritage—was joined by entrepreneurs Larry Connor of the United States, Mark Pathy of Canada and Israel’s Eytan Stibbe aboard SpaceX’s Dragon Endeavour. Flying on behalf of Houston, Texas-based AxiomSpace, Inc., the quartet are embarking on the first all-private crewed mission to the space station.
https://www.americaspace.com/2022/04/08/first-all-private-mission-flies-heads-for-space-station/First-of-its-kind commercial astronaut mission heads for space stationApril 8, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket climbs away from pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to begin the Ax-1 commercial crew mission. Credit: NASA/Joel KowskyStrapped in the seats of a SpaceX crew capsule, a retired NASA astronaut and three wealthy paying passengers rocketed into orbit Friday from the Kennedy Space Center on the first fully commercial mission to the International Space Station. (...)
Michael López-Alegría, commander of the mission, launched on his fifth flight to space. The other crew members for the Axiom mission, known as Ax-1, are pilot Larry Connor and mission specialists Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy, three investors and entrepreneurs who paid for their tickets to space. (...)
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/04/08/first-of-its-kind-commercial-astronaut-mission-heads-for-space-station/Axiom mission arrives at ISSby Jeff Foust — April 9, 2022 [SN]
The Ax-1 Crew Dragon spacecraft docked with the space station early April 9, a little more than 21 hours after launch from Florida. Credit: NASA TVWASHINGTON — A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying four private astronauts arrived at the International Space Station April 9 for a scheduled eight-day stay.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft Endeavour docked with the station at 8:29 a.m. Eastern, about 21 hours after it reached orbit after its launch on a Falcon 9 from the Kennedy Space Center. The docking took place about 45 minutes behind schedule as the Dragon loitered 20 meters from the station while the ISS crew and ground controllers worked on an issue with video they needed to support the docking.
https://spacenews.com/axiom-mission-arrives-at-iss/First crew of private astronauts welcomed aboard International Space StationApril 9, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
With the arrival of the Ax-1 crew, 11 people are now living and working aboard the International Space Station. Credit: NASA TV / Spaceflight NowA SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked at the International Space Station on Saturday with four private astronauts, beginning a planned stay of at least eight days — and maybe longer — while becoming the first mission with an all-commercial crew to visit the orbiting research complex.
The commercial spacecraft built and owned by SpaceX docked with the Harmony module at 8:29 a.m. EDT (1229 GMT) Saturday, nearly 45 minutes later than scheduled due to a video problem on the space station. (...)
In a time with an increasing pace of crew launches to space, Connor said the Ax-1 mission is different than other private crew missions to space. (...)
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/04/09/first-crew-of-private-astronauts-welcomed-aboard-international-space-station/Commercial crew has no problem adapting to life on space stationApril 14, 2022 William Harwood STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS & USED WITH PERMISSION [SFN]
Axiom-1 mission commander Michael López-Alegría, a retired astronaut with four previous space flights to his credit, describes the first fully commercial visit to the International Space Station in an interview with CBS News. Credit: Axiom SpaceThe first NASA-sanctioned all-private crew to visit the International Space Station has had few problems adapting to weightlessness, but a non-stop schedule of proprietary research and public outreach has left little “window time” for sightseeing, their commander said Wednesday.
Since arriving at the station last Saturday “and ever since, it has been fast paced. I think that’s probably the biggest surprise, just how incredibly quick time goes by,” retired astronaut Michael López-Alegría, the crew’s leader and mentor, said in a space-to-ground interview with CBS News.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/04/14/commercial-crew-has-no-problem-adapting-to-life-on-space-station/NASA ready for Ax-1 return and Crew-4 launchby Jeff Foust — April 15, 2022 [SN]
The Ax-1 Crew Dragon approaching the ISS April 9. That spacecraft is scheduled to undock April 19 and splash down the next day. Credit: NASAWASHINGTON — NASA says it’s gearing up for a rapid-fire series of events on the International Space Station that includes the return of a private astronaut mission and the launch of a new long-duration crew of American and European astronauts.
NASA announced April 15 that Axiom Space’s Ax-1 mission to the station, which launched April 8 and docked to the station the next day, will conclude with an undocking scheduled for 10:35 a.m. Eastern April 19. That would lead to a splashdown off the Florida coast at 7:19 a.m. Eastern April 20.
https://spacenews.com/nasa-ready-for-ax-1-return-and-crew-4-launch/Weather delays Ax-1 returnby Jeff Foust — April 20, 2022 [SN]
Despite weather delays, the ISS crew held a departure ceremony for the Ax-1 private astronauts on the space station April 19. Credit: NASA TVWASHINGTON — Poor weather will delay the return to Earth of four private astronauts from the International Space Station, which could in turn push back the launch of the next set of NASA and ESA astronauts to the station.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft Endeavour was scheduled to undock from the ISS April 19, setting up a splashdown on the morning of April 20 off the Florida coast to conclude the Ax-1 mission to the station by Axiom Space. NASA announced April 18, though, that the undocking had been delayed to the evening of April 19, with splashdown moved to the afternoon of April 20.
https://spacenews.com/weather-delays-ax-1-return/Ax-1 undocks from space station after extended stayby Jeff Foust — April 24, 2022 [SN]
The Ax-1 Crew Dragon spacecraft, seen here docking with the ISS April 9, finally undocked April 24 after weather delayed its departure by several days. Credit: NASA TVWASHINGTON — A Crew Dragon undocked from the International Space Station April 24 carrying four private astronauts who spent nearly twice as long on the station as originally planned.
https://spacenews.com/ax-1-undocks-from-space-station-after-extended-stay/SpaceX again waves off return of Axiom crew missionApril 23, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
A view of the Florida peninsula from the International Space Station earlier this month. Credit: NASAWith persistent high winds off the Florida coast, SpaceX on Saturday again waved off the undocking and return to Earth of a Dragon crew capsule from the International Space Station with four private astronauts. The decision delays the Axiom crew’s departure until no earlier than Sunday night, with splashdown Monday afternoon.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/04/23/spacex-again-waves-off-return-of-axiom-crew-mission/Axiom’s private astronauts depart space station after 15-day stayApril 25, 2022 William Harwood STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS & USED WITH PERMISSION [SFN]
SpaceX’s Dragon Endeavour spacecraft fires Draco thrusters after undocking from the International Space Station. Credit: NASA TV / Spaceflight NowA SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying four non-professional astronauts, the first fully commercial, non-government crew to visit the International Space Station, undocked from the outpost Sunday, heading for re-entry and splashdown Monday to close out an extended 17-day mission.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/04/25/axioms-private-astronauts-depart-space-station-after-15-day-stay/