Axiom Space announces launch of Ax-4 mission next October

Fresh off the heels of the International Space Station’s (ISS) Ax-3 mission crew returning to Earth last Friday, North American aerospace company Axiom Space is announcing its fourth mission (Ax-4) next October from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. in Florida.

Axiom Space plays an important role in bringing human spaceflight capabilities to the broader international community. These missions enable governments, individuals, researchers, academic institutions and organizations around the world conduct comprehensive scientific research, technology demonstrations and outreach events in a unique microgravity environment.

Axiom Space’s first three flights to the ISS included crew members from the United States, Spain, Israel, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Turkey and Sweden, with support from the European Space Agency (ESA). Moreover, last year Axiom Space has signed a memorandum of understanding with ESA and the UK Space Agency. explore future possibilities for human spaceflight.

During its recent 18-day mission, it docked with the ISS. The Aks-3 crew lived and worked aboard the orbital laboratory, conducting more than 30 different experiments. and more than 50 outreach commitments. Human research data collected on the ground before and after the mission, as well as in flight, will improve the understanding of human physiology on Earth and in microgravity.

“Ax-3 demonstrated that the European space community is a pioneer in the growing commercial space industry. “The crew and the governments they represent are taking bold steps toward a new era of leadership in low Earth orbit,” says Axiom Space.

Ax-3 has many new features: It was the first commercial spaceflight with national astronauts, sponsored by the government and ESA; Mission specialist Alper Gezeravci became the first Turkish astronaut; and mission specialist Markus Wandt was the first ESA project astronaut to participate in a commercial spaceflight.

Ax-3 was the third in a series of human spaceflights proposed by Axiom Space and was a major milestone towards the creation of Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station.