The private commercial mission Axiom-3 is already heading to the International Space Station (ISS) after successfully launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center this Thursday. Under the command of the Spanish-American Michael López-Alegría, the mission of the American company Axion Space with four crew members on board took off at 4:49 p.m. local time (9:49 p.m. Spanish peninsular time) from Cape Canaveral (Florida, USA) and aims to travel to the ISS can carry out more than thirty scientific experiments in weightlessness, including on stem cells and cancer.
The crew, which will remain at the orbital outpost for 14 days, will be completed by the Italian Walter Villadei (pilot) and the specialists Alper Gezeravci, the first Turk to travel into space, and Marcus Wandt from Sweden. The ship launched on schedule in an 8-meter-tall Dragon capsule powered by a 70-meter-long, two-stage reusable Falcon 9 rocket, both from Elon Musk's private commercial company SpaceX. Just three minutes later, the ship flew into space at a speed of 3,500 km/h and separated from the reusable stage one, completing its return flight to successfully land on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. And about 15 minutes later, the rocket's second stage was fired, after which the four astronauts smiled and gave a thumbs up.
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“Congratulations to Axiom and SpaceX on a successful launch! “Together with our commercial partners, NASA supports a growing commercial space economy and the future of space technology,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement Thursday. Nelson emphasized that this is “the first fully European commercial astronaut mission to the space station,” proof that “the possibility of space connects us all.”
The crew of the commercial mission, sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA), will conduct scientific research related to life sciences, human psychology and industrial technological advances. Some of the results could be used to identify new therapies in the fight against cancer, for example, at an early stage when it is still curable.
The astronauts of the Axiom 3 mission, from left to right: Swede Marcus Wandt; the Italian Walter Villadei; Michael López-Alegría and the Turkish Alper Gezeravci.Axiom Space (EFE/Axiom Space)
If all goes well, the capsule will dock 36 hours after liftoff from Cape Canaveral on Saturday at 9:49 a.m. (Peninsular Spanish time) with the station, which has been in orbit since 1998 and will operate until 2030. The hatches are The connection between the Dragon and the ISS is expected to open after 11:00 a.m., allowing the Axiom crew to enter the station and be greeted by its seven occupants with a welcoming ceremony and begin their stay in the orbital laboratory.
Here is a special message from #Bx3 Mission Commander Michael López-Alegría. MLA is an accomplished astronaut and leader. The #Bx3 The mission is his second commercial mission as commander. MLA will make history as the first person ever to ride aboard a SpaceX Dragon twice! pic.twitter.com/3Dmk7fbMWJ
— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) January 18, 2024
The Axiom 3 astronauts will depart the space station on February 3 as planned and weather permitting to return to Earth and land off the coast of Florida. The private mission will also help advance private development and use of the ISS in this new era, creating a strong and sustainable market for Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This is the fifth flight of the Falcon 9 first booster stage and the third flight of the Dragon spacecraft, which can accommodate seven passengers and carry significant cargo to Earth. Madrid astronaut López-Alegría, 65, had already led Axiom's first commercial mission in 2022, when he spent 17 days on the ISS. On this occasion he will stay on the aforementioned space station for two weeks. It is his sixth mission in space, following three missions on NASA's space shuttle and a flight on Russia's Soyuz.
The reusable Falcon 9 rocket costs $67 million, and SpaceX is offering discounts on multiple launch purchases as well as crew transportation services to commercial customers looking to carry astronauts to LEO. Axiom Space was founded in 2016 to capitalize on the emerging market for commercial activities in low Earth orbit, from tourism to manufacturing. The private commercial company plans to operate its own space station, the construction of which it will begin as part of the ISS, with the aim of launching its first module in 2026.
The mission was scheduled to launch this Wednesday, but officials postponed the launch to conduct final inspection and data analysis of the vehicle. NASA's efforts, including private astronaut missions, open up access to low Earth orbit for private industry and allow the American agency to become one of many customers of a thriving commercial space economy.
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