Today the Ax-2 crew had an opportunity to highlight their experiences leading up to the mission, preparedness, and important mission objectives. The Ax-2 crew is currently in quarantine making final preparations ahead of the mission, which is targeted for launch no earlier than 5:37 p.m. ET on May 21, 2023.
Participants included:
Peggy Whitson, Ax-2 Commander
John Shoffner, Ax-2 Pilot
Ali AlQarni, Ax-2 Mission Specialist
Rayyanah Barnawi, Ax-2 Mission Specialist
Ax-2 will be the first commercial human spaceflight mission to include both private astronauts and astronauts representing foreign governments, as well as the first private mission commanded by a female. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Ax-2 crew aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Once docked, the Axiom Space astronauts plan to spend their time aboard the orbiting laboratory implementing a full mission comprised of science, outreach, and commercial activities.
Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut, will lead the mission, and aviator John Shoffner of Knoxville, Tennessee, will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists, Ali AlQarni and Rayyanah Barnawi from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are members of the inaugural Saudi national astronaut program.
On Saturday, May 20, Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX will participate in a Launch Readiness Review to evaluate mission hardware and its readiness for launch. Approximately one hour after the conclusion of that meeting — no earlier than 6:00 p.m. ET — the team will hold a pre-launch teleconference focused on final preparations for the mission.
Media must register to ask questions during the press event. Please RSVP by 12:00 p.m. ET on May 19, to media@axiomspace.com.
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