The First Axiom ISS Mission Crew Was Just Approved

Over the past few decades, the International Space Station has been orbiting Earth and providing access to an invaluable environment. While the station has been of great use over the years, it will not last forever. Around 2030 the ISS is expected to retire and be removed from orbit. Prior to this happening NASA along with other agencies are working with commercial companies such as Axiom Space to provide a replacement.

On February 2nd, 2022, NASA announced that space station partners had approved the first Axiom mission astronauts. This was a big step in making the first Axiom mission possible. These astronauts are a part of Axiom’s Ax-1 Mission, which is intended to bring the first all-private crew to the ISS. This same mission is providing the foundation for future missions bringing space station segments and more.

Axiom has been working hard over the past few years to not only develop future technology for a space station replacement but on the initial Ax-1 mission. Combine this with the help of SpaceX and the Crew Dragon, and you have a mission expected to happen in only a few months.

Credit:

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
1:09 - What Is Ax-1?
3:20 - Recent Approval