Axiom Astronaut Launch: Scheduled for Thursday, a private astronaut mission is set to launch to the International Space Station (ISS), marking a departure from previous flights where wealthy space tourists footed the bill for their orbital journeys. This time, Italy, Sweden, and Turkey are seizing the opportunity of new commercial avenues to send astronauts from their respective government space programs to the ISS, with Turkey contributing its first-ever astronaut.
This mission, the third for Axiom Space based in Houston, differs from its past ventures of accommodating paying customers for brief ISS stays. In 2019, NASA altered its stance, permitting visitors to access its section of the space station. Russia has been hosting space tourists on the ISS since 2001.
Here are the key details about the upcoming launch
Launch Details: The launch, utilizing a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, is scheduled for Thursday at 4:49 p.m. Eastern time from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Initially planned for Wednesday, the launch was postponed by one day to allow teams to complete prelaunch checkouts and data analysis. Favorable conditions at the launchpad are predicted with an 80 percent chance. Backup opportunities are available on Friday if there are delays. Coverage will be streamed by Axiom and SpaceX, beginning about two hours before launch, with NASA Television joining at 3:45 p.m.
Crew Members: The astronaut crew comprises Alper Gezeravci, a Turkish Air Force fighter pilot; Walter Villadei, an Italian Air Force colonel; and Marcus Wandt, a former Swedish Air Force fighter and test pilot. Their respective governments have invested tens of millions of dollars for each astronaut’s journey. Gezeravci, set to become Turkey’s first astronaut, aims to inspire future generations, emphasizing that the spaceflight is just the beginning of their journey. Wandt, who applied to become a European Space Agency astronaut in 2022, serves as a “reserve” astronaut eligible for future missions. Michael López-Alegría, a former NASA astronaut and current chief astronaut at Axiom, will command the mission.
Arrival at the Space Station: If the launch proceeds as planned on Thursday, the mission is expected to reach the ISS on Saturday at 5:15 a.m. Eastern time.
Other Nations and Commercial Flights: Last year, Saudi Arabia sent two astronauts on a previous Axiom flight to the ISS, engaging in various scientific experiments during their mission. Poland has a reserve astronaut, Slawosz Uznanski, lined up for a future Axiom flight. The United Kingdom Space Agency has also entered an agreement with Axiom to fly British astronauts to orbit. The United Arab Emirates utilized a Russian Soyuz rocket for an eight-day ISS stay in 2019 and arranged a six-month stay in 2023 for a second Emirati astronaut through Axiom Space.