Successful Completion of the Third Private Mission to the International Space Station by NASA

The International Space Station (ISS) has witnessed the successful completion of the third private astronaut mission, Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), marking a significant milestone in NASA’s efforts to create commercial opportunities in space. The mission, which lasted nearly 22 days, saw the safe return of its four crew members, Michael López-Alegría, Walter Villadei, Marcus Wandt, and Alper Gezeravci, to Earth on February 9, 2024.

The Ax-3 mission, which launched on January 18, 2024, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, was the third private astronaut mission to the ISS. The crew spent over two weeks aboard the space station conducting microgravity research, educational outreach, and commercial activities. Upon their return to Earth, they were retrieved by SpaceX recovery vessels off the coast of Daytona, Florida.

NASA’s Phil McAlister, director of the commercial space division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, expressed his excitement about the mission, stating, “Low Earth orbit is now within humanity’s economic sphere of influence. It presents the best opportunities for the U.S. commercial space sector to capture new global and domestic markets and to provide critical capabilities to the nation’s space objectives.”

The Ax-3 mission is part of a larger effort by NASA to open space to more people, more research, and more opportunities. McAlister further explained, “This ground-breaking Ax-3 mission is part of a larger effort, enabled by NASA, to open space to more people, more research, and more opportunities as the agency prepares for the transition to future private space stations at the end of this decade.”

The crew’s return to Earth marked the end of their mission, but not the end of their work. The spacecraft, which carried over 30 science experiments and returned NASA cargo, will undergo inspection and processing at SpaceX’s refurbishing facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Teams will examine the spacecraft’s data and performance throughout the flight to ensure its readiness for future missions.

Supporting private astronaut missions is a key part of NASA’s strategy to create a vibrant commercial economy in orbit. The Ax-3 mission embodies the culmination of NASA’s efforts to foster a commercial market in low Earth orbit and continue a new era of space exploration. This partnership expands the arc of human spaceflight history and opens access to low Earth orbit and the International Space Station to more people, science, and commercial opportunities.

The Ax-3 mission’s successful completion marks a significant step forward in NASA’s efforts to create a thriving commercial space industry. The agency’s support of private astronaut missions is a crucial component of its strategy to open space to more people, more research, and more opportunities. As NASA prepares for the transition to future private space stations, the Ax-3 mission serves as a testament to the potential of commercial space travel and the opportunities it presents for humanity.

In conclusion, the successful completion of the third private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 3, represents a significant milestone in NASA’s efforts to create commercial opportunities in space. The mission’s safe return of its crew and the data and cargo it carried marks the end of one journey and the beginning of a new era of space exploration and commercial opportunities. The Ax-3 mission serves as a testament to the potential of commercial space travel and the opportunities it presents for humanity.

News Media Contacts:
Joshua Finch / Julian Coltre
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / julian.n.coltre@nasa.gov

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Page Last Updated:
Feb 09, 2024

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