Ax-1 Crew Update: Flight Day 10

Ax-1 Mission Specialist Mark Pathy waves to the camera during an outreach event aboard the ISS.

Ten days down and two more to go until the conclusion of Axiom Mission One (Ax-1), the historic all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station.  

After arriving at the ISS with more than 25 experiments to complete, the Ax-1 crew is wrapping up the remaining science activities and are packing and preparing cargo transfers for return to Earth. They will bring back with them important data that will benefit future human spaceflight pursuits and humankind on Earth. 

As the ISS moves over storms on Earth, Commander Michael López-Alegría and Eytan Stibbe performed additional sessions of the ILAN-ES project by photographing lightning bolts in the atmosphere from above. Researchers and students have been simultaneously photographing the same lightning strikes from ground stations in specific locations across the world. This citizen science project aims to better understand the structure and behavior of lightning while enabling hands-on scientific engagement and international collaboration. 

López-Alegría, Stibbe, and Larry Connor completed the final session of the neurowellness research by monitoring brain activity with a high-density EEG system. During the mission, the crewmembers have been utilizing a novel dry sensor EEG device to take two recordings per day of up to 10 minutes. This study demonstrated an innovative EEG system for cognitive assessment and training for long-term space mission research. 

Stibbe gathered images for the Nano ISS Antennae study, which will validate flexible communication antennae folding and deployment under microgravity conditions. Developed by NSLComm, this technology is a unique deployable reflector antenna to enhance high bandwidth communications. 

In addition, Mark Pathy completed the BioMonitor study. The conclusive results of this activity will help investigate new analysis techniques to detect negative effects on the interaction of the heart, lungs, and circulation through real-time monitoring. 

The crew is continuing to complete daily questionnaires related to sleep, pain, and understanding "home-life." This collection of personal data will help unravel the mysteries surrounding chronic pain and sleep disturbances during space travel.  

When the Axiom astronauts depart from the orbiting lab, they will return to Earth with critical insight after dedicating their time conducting human tended research and life-changing science and technology demonstrations in partnership with leading global organizations, including the Mayo Clinic, Montreal Children’s Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, and the Ramon Foundation. The results of these experiments will be used to provide important information about health and medicine on Earth and advance technologies to enable safer future space travel. 

As they officially become the first fully private astronaut mission to the ISS, the crew’s combined efforts will have opened the door for a new era of space travel.  

Ax-1 Crew Update: Flight Day 9

The four-person, multinational Ax-1 crew has barely had any down time since they arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) over a week ago. The crew has dedicated about 14 hours each day aboard the ISS to further human knowledge on how space impacts health, the functionality of next generation technologies in microgravity, and the preparations needed to meet the demands of long-distance and long-duration space travel. Through the Ax-1 mission, the private astronauts have expanded the volume and type of research conducted on the space station, making the ISS more accessible to a broader range of individuals and organizations. 

As the crew nears the end of their short-duration mission, their final days have been focused on finishing their extensive list of science- and technology-related activities. The private astronauts will soon return to Earth with critical data and insight from an array of studies that will bolster the potential for new sectors to work in microgravity and advance the low-Earth orbit economy.  

Today the crew continued gathering personal data for stress monitoring research by wearing sensors, completing a self-reporting questionnaire, and utilizing a functional testing mobile application. This project is important for understanding stress levels among crewmembers throughout their space journey.

As part of a multi-year research program exploring self-assembly methods for in-space construction, Ax-1 Commander Michael López-Alegría successfully completed all operations for TESSERAE. Named after the small tiles in ancient Roman mosaics, the modular TESSERAE tiles can join to create a larger structure. The prototypes used on the Ax-1 mission include an extensive suite of sensing and electro-permanent magnets that monitor diagnostics and provide insight into the quality of bonds between tiles. The scaled demonstration builds on previous microgravity evaluations of the TESSERAE investigation to explore a new frontier for in-orbit construction of satellites and future space habitats.

---> Watch yesterday’s update featuring Dr. Ekblaw as she talks about the TESSERAE experiment.

Adding to the list of successfully completed projects, Larry Connor wrapped up the final operations for the aging and heart health study. In coordination with the Mayo Clinic, his work will contribute to the understanding of cellular senescence and its causes, potentially leading to clinical trials for diseases related to cellular aging, including cancer. 

Eytan Stibbe proceeded to collect daily images for the Nano ISS Antenna, which is a unique deployable reflector antenna for high-bandwidth communications. Two more image collections will be conducted to finish this test.  

Stibbe completed work for the AstroRad Vest investigation. The vest was created to protect astronauts from radiation in space as they travel beyond low-Earth orbit. This vest will help mitigate the effects of solar particle events by utilizing selective shielding to maximize efficiency and minimize impacts to ergonomics. 

In addition, Stibbe performed additional sessions of the ILAN-ES project to study electrical phenomena above thunderstorms, known as Transient Luminous Events (TLE). Observing these events from space will be compared with imagery taken of the same events from the ground to enhance understanding of what is happening between the upper and lower atmosphere. 

Mark Pathy continued his work on the Earth Observation study by gathering images from the Cupola. By using the collection of images taken and comparing images in the database of astronaut handheld photography, researchers from Western University in London, Ontario, Canada plan to analyze and present a pictorial review of the impact of human and natural pressures on our terrestrial ecosystem. 

Each day the crew is making considerable progress in completing the more than 25 experiments brought aboard with them on the ISS. Their efforts and hard work on the collection of studies will ultimately impact understanding of human physiology on Earth and in-orbit, as well as establish the utility of novel technologies that could be used for future human spaceflight pursuits and the design for our future homes away from Earth, beginning with Axiom Station. 

Axiom Space and Partners Demonstrate Commitment to Emerging Technologies for In Space Production and Manufacturing in Low-Earth Orbit

At the core of Axiom Space’s mission is to enable the development of a diverse and robust commercial economy in low-Earth orbit. Axiom Space, a leader in human spaceflight and building the world’s first commercial space station, proudly congratulates four of its partners whose proposals were selected by NASA in Focus Area 1A of the NASA Research Announcement (NRA) seeking In Space Production Applications (InSPA) flight demonstrations:

• Establishing Production of Stem Cell Therapies, Cedars-Sinai Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles

• Fabrication of Flawless Glass in Microgravity, Flawless Photonics, Inc., Los Altos Hills, California

• Biomimetic Fabrication of Multifunctional DNA-inspired Nanomaterials, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut

• Semimetal-Semiconductor Composite Bulk Crystals, United Semiconductors, LLC, Los Alamitos, California

Axiom Space and its partners made up half of the selected proposals, highlighting the company’s commitment to enabling proof-of-concept demonstrations and cutting-edge advancements that will establish next-generation technologies in the first independent space station.

“I congratulate our partners for this tremendous accomplishment and their dedication to innovating and advancing in-space technologies and capabilities in low-Earth orbit,” said Christian Maender, Director of In-Space Research and Manufacturing at Axiom Space. “We are excited that NASA continues to expand and offer more opportunities for in-space production applications and for taking the next steps in the commercialization of space.”

More about the selectees:

Cedars-Sinai Regenerative Medicine Institute, located in Los Angeles, in partnership with Axiom Space of Houston has been selected for proposing to use cutting-edge methods related to the production and differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) on the International Space Station. Cedars-Sinai will explore in-space production of stem cells into heart, brain, and blood tissues in support of regenerative medicine uses on Earth. While stem cells and stem cell-derived tissues hold great promise for use in research and as clinical-grade therapeutic agents, safe and efficient expansion of stem cells and their derivatives continues to be a major challenge on Earth. Generating, expanding, and differentiating cells at scale in the microgravity environment of space with sufficient yields of a constant therapeutic cell product that meets FDA biologics requirements may be the answer to overcome those challenges.

Flawless Photonics, Inc. of Los Altos Hills, California, in partnership with the University of Adelaide, Axiom Space, and Visioneering Space has been selected for their proposal to develop specialized glass manufacturing hardware to process Heavy-Metal Fluoride Glasses (HMFG) in microgravity. HMFG glasses are used in the terrestrial manufacturing of exotic optical fibers and other optics applications. Without convective forces present in 1g, HMFG made in microgravity are expected to achieve the ideal amorphous microstructure during synthesis, eliminating light scattering defects that limit lasing power and transmission over long fiber lengths.

The University of Connecticut out of Storrs, Connecticut, in partnership with Eascra Biotech of Boston, Massachusetts and Axiom Space of Houston, has been selected for their proposed biomimetic fabrication of multifunctional nanomaterials, a cutting-edge breakthrough in biomedicine that can benefit from microgravity in space to accomplish controlled self-assembly of DNA-inspired Janus base nanomaterials (JBNs). These JBNs will be used as effective, safe, and stable delivery vehicles for RNA therapeutics and vaccines, as well as first-in-kind injectable scaffolds for regenerative medicine. By leveraging the benefits of microgravity, the UConn/Eascra team expects to mature in-space production of different types of JBNs with more orderly structures and higher homogeneity over what is possible using terrestrial materials, improving efficacy for mRNA therapeutics and structural integrity for cartilage tissue repair.

United Semiconductors of Los Alamitos, California, has been selected for their proposal to produce semimetal-semiconductor composite bulk crystals commonly used in electromagnetic sensors for solving challenges in the energy, high performance computing and national security sectors. Together with teammates Axiom Space of Houston and Redwire of Greenville, Indiana, United Semiconductors intends to validate the scaling and efficacy of producing larger semimetal-semiconductor composite crystals under microgravity conditions with perfectly aligned and continuous semimetal wires embedded across the semiconductor matrix. If successful at eliminating defects found in those manufactured with terrestrial materials, United Semiconductors will have developed a processing technology for creating device-ready wafers from space-grown crystals.

Ax-1 Crew Update: Flight Day 8

Time is flying by as the crew works minute-by-minute conducting experiments and research while continuing their commitment to outreach events engaging with students, the media, and organizations from around the world. The crew remains focused on their remaining days on the International Space Station (ISS). They continue to see progress made in real-time as they complete the numerous experiments brought aboard with them on the ISS.

Today the astronauts continued to gather data and complete daily sessions for ongoing projects to enhance human research, physical sciences, cardioprotection, and high bandwidth communications. These efforts will expand the breakthrough potential of work in microgravity to new sectors to lay the groundwork for a full realization of possibilities within low-Earth orbit. All crewmembers collected personal information and data for stress monitoring research by wearing a combination of sensors that detect central nervous system functions. Through sensors, a self-report questionnaire, and a functional testing mobile application allow for accurate monitoring of stress levels among crewmembers throughout their journey in space.

As part of a multi-year research program exploring self-assembly methods for in-space construction, Ax-1 Commander Michael López-Alegría completed the setup for the TESSERAE tiles. The tiles pack flat for launch, and once activated, they form a robotic swarm of autonomous and self-assembling units that will be tested in a series of configurations during the mission. Eytan Stibbe completed the CRISPR experiment's second and final round of activities. The recently developed CRISPR-based technology for gene identification and editing allows for simple and reliable detection of DNA sequences that support the identification of pathogens and contaminants. This technology was being tested in space for the first time.

Stibbe also completed familiarization and range of motion activities while wearing the AstroRad Vest. The vest is radiation personal protective equipment (PPE) for astronauts that utilizes selective shielding to maximize effectivity and minimize impacts on ergonomics. The AstroRad Vest was co-developed by StemRad and Lockheed Martin, with the primary goal of mitigating solar particle events (SPE). During the Ax-1 mission, a comprehensive examination will be conducted with the crew to assess ergonomic data.

Mark Pathy completed the Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) session of the Ocular Rigidity Investigation (SANSORI) project. This experiment aims to test a new hypothesis related to the causes of Space Flight-Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS), a known condition of long-duration spaceflight that can cause vision changes in astronauts.

Pathy continued his work of Earth observations from the Cupola. The campaign includes specific observation targets for the scientific study of changing planetary biology and human urbanization. Along with the daily experiments and research, Stibbe had a schedule full of outreach activities. Stibbe answered questions from SpaceTech, a leading strategic and analytics agency focused on space technology industries and shared how there are amazing activities taking place all over Israel inspired by the Rakia Mission on the Ax-1 mission, which combines a variety of experiments in many areas that will advance the Israeli space industry and even influence applications here on Earth. He also reflected on how the mission changed his view of life when it comes to unity, peace, and making the world a better place for his grandchildren.

Stibbe also conducted a climate change lesson where he explained the water purification system on the ISS, how oxygen levels are maintained, and how energy is generated. Through a citizenship lesson, he shed light on how each area on the space station is governed by the country it is associated with, yet the rules and boundaries are blurred by the desire to explore and help humanity – space is the key to world peace.
Stibbe's busy day of outreach continued with a microgravity challenge put forward by students who suggested different tasks to try in space. He sent a message in sign language and conducted work to show how physical limitations on Earth should not hinder your abilities in space, proving that space is a place for everyone. Lastly, he sent an important message by calling on the children of Israel to place friendship as a supreme value.

Larry Connor did a live Q&A with Dayton Daily News and talked about his duties during launch and the flight to the ISS as pilot of Ax-1. Through the Ax-1 mission, Connor explained his desire to help pioneer space exploration that results in real and sustainable scientific research and technology advancements that ultimately benefit all people.

In addition, Connor connected with Brady Kress, the Dayton History Museum President, and CEO. He compared the difference between being almost four miles under the ocean to 250 miles above the Earth and what it is like orbiting the Earth over 17,000 mph. Connor shared how it is an honor to connect Dayton's rich aviation history with the next frontier in space with the symbolic piece of fabric that originally covered the Wright Brothers' 1903 Kitty Hawk Flyer.

Through the Ax-1 mission, the crew is paving the way for more affordable and accessible space exploration long-term. The lessons learned during this mission are essential to Axiom Space's effort to build the world's first commercial space station.

People - Watch Astronaut Michael López-Alegría and Pianist BLKBOK Perform a Duet — from Space!

Astronaut Michael López-Alegría's latest mission is out of this world.

In what marked the very first time an astronaut in orbit has performed a duet with a musician back down on Earth, López-Alegría teamed up with pianist BLKBOK for a moving performance of the artist's song "STARS (AD ASTRA)."

Afterwards, BLKBOK—who was behind the keys in Florida, where he'd watched López-Alegría take off—performed, fittingly, Elton John's "Rocket Man," which he dedicated to the astronaut, 63.

CBS News - Commercial crew in full stride aboard space station, having "a ton of fun"

The first NASA-sanctioned all-private crew to visit the International Space Station has had few problems adapting to weightlessness, but a non-stop schedule of proprietary research and public outreach has left little "window time" for sightseeing, their commander said Wednesday.

Since arriving at the station last Saturday, "it has been fast paced," retired astronaut Michael López-Alegría, the crew's leader and mentor, said in a space-to-ground interview with CBS News. "I think that's probably the biggest surprise, just how incredibly quick time goes by." 

Axiom Space sets undock, splashdown coverage for return of Ax-1 crew

EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to weather conditions, Ax-1 undock has been postponed to April 24. See updated media advisory for full details. (April 23, 2022)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Axiom Space is delaying the undocking of Ax-1 due to unfavorable weather conditions.  TWEET (April 18, 2022)

EDITOR’S NOTE: This advisory has been updated to reflect changes to the Ax-1 schedule as of April 17, 2022.

HOUSTON, 14 April 2022 – Axiom Space has set coverage for the return of its historic Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1), the first all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the four-person multinational crew is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station at approximately 10 p.m. EDT Tuesday, April 19, to begin the journey back to Earth.

Weather permitting, the spacecraft is anticipated to splashdown off the coast of Florida no earlier than approximately 3:24 p.m. EDT Wednesday, April 20.

Courtesy of NASA

Coverage of the Ax-1 return will include four separate segments over two days - farewell ceremony, hatch closure, undocking and splashdown. All segments will be available at AxiomSpace.com

Axiom Space and NASA will begin joint coverage on the morning of Tuesday, April 19, with a farewell ceremony between the Ax-1 and Expedition 67 crews. Joint coverage will include hatch closure which will air live on NASA Television, the agency’s website, and AxiomSpace.com

Axiom Space, NASA and SpaceX will produce joint coverage for undocking at 9:45 p.m.

Then on Wednesday, April 20, Axiom Space and SpaceX will begin joint webcast coverage through splashdown beginning at 2:20 p.m. EDT on AxiomSpace.com.

Ax-1 is the first of several proposed Axiom missions to the ISS and an important step toward Axiom Station, the world’s first private space station, which will serve as a hub in low-Earth orbit for research and exploration.

Ax-1 Commander Michael López-Alegría, Pilot Larry Connor, and Mission Specialists Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy will complete 12 days in space at the conclusion of their mission. SpaceX Dragon Endeavour, the Ax-1 spacecraft, will return to Earth with more than 200 pounds of science and supplies, including NASA experiments, hardware and commercial science payloads.

Coverage of the crew’s farewell from the ISS and return to Earth will be available as follows (all times Eastern):

Tuesday, April 19

7 a.m.: Ax-1 Crew Farewell Ceremony

The crew on board the International Space Station will participate in an end-of-mission, in-orbit event. Watch live at AxiomSpace.com and nasa.gov/live.

7:45 p.m.: Hatch Close

The hatch will close between the Dragon spacecraft and the International Space Station in preparation for undocking. Coverage begins 15 minutes ahead of hatch closure, scheduled for approximately 8 p.m. Watch live at AxiomSpace.com and nasa.gov/live.

9:45 p.m. : Undocking

The Ax-1 crew undocks from the ISS to begin the journey back to Earth. Coverage begins 15 minutes ahead of undocking, scheduled for approximately 10 p.m. Watch live at AxiomSpace.com, nasa.gov/live and SpaceX’s YouTube channel.

Wednesday, April 20

2:20 p.m.: Splashdown and Landing Broadcast 

Coverage begins about an hour ahead of splashdown, scheduled for approximately 3:24 p.m. EDT. Watch live at AxiomSpace.com and SpaceX’s YouTube channel.

Time TBD: Post-landing Teleconference

Approximately one hour following the end of the webcast, Axiom Space and SpaceX leadership will provide remarks and take questions from reporters via teleconference.

Participants include:

• Derek Hassman, Operations Director, Axiom Space

• Benjamin Reed, Senior Director, Human Spaceflight Programs, SpaceX

To participate in the briefing, media must request call-in details no later than 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 20, by emailing media@axiomspace.com. This is a teleconference-only event (not in-person) with audio only.

This advisory will be updated as times are confirmed for events related to mission operations.  

Follow along for mission updates with #Ax1 on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, as well as our website.  

About Axiom Space

Axiom Space is guided by the vision of a thriving home in space that benefits every human, everywhere. The leading provider of human spaceflight services and developer of human-rated space infrastructure, Axiom operates end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while privately developing its successor – a permanent commercial destination in Earth’s orbit that will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home. More information about Axiom can be found at www.axiomspace.com.

For more information contact:
Bettina Inclán
media@axiomspace.com

Ax-1 Crew Update: Flight Day 7

Today the Axiom astronauts aboard the International Space Station participated in a wide range of events, from HAM radio to the first-ever music duet performance in space to accomplishing more innovative science.

Here is an update for flight day 7:

Ax-1 Commander Michael López-Alegría and Neo-Classical Piano Prodigy BLKBOK made music and space history with their piano and keyboard duet performance of Stars (Ad Astra), a BLKBOK original composition. BLKBOK also performed Rocket Man, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, in a fitting tribute to the 50th anniversary of the iconic track, as well as to Commander López-Alegría and the entire crew. The idea for this history-making performance from space stemmed from a desire by both López-Alegría and BLKBOK to encourage a dialogue about music and education in general and to highlight the importance of STEAM as an educational discipline. As something that they both have experienced to spark their interest and lifelong love of the arts and sciences, they wanted to support the concept of including the Arts, along with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEAM), in education to prepare students to become innovators, in our ever-evolving world. Something they believe is mission critical, not only for the future of the students but for the future of us all.

López-Alegría called to order the Executive Committee of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International Committee F47 on Commercial Space from 250 miles above the Earth. In addition to the agenda, López-Alegría shared a congratulatory message to the committee in celebration of the 125th anniversary of ASTM International.

His research engagements for today included monitoring physiological and cognitive data using hardware and software to further understand the effects of microgravity during space missions.

Larry Connor, along with López-Alegría, continued work on the Aging and Heart Health investigation, an experiment from the Mayo Clinic. This study analyzes human cells for genetic markers of cellular aging and explores cardiac-like cells' adaptation to microgravity.

Eytan Stibbe engaged with Israeli middle school students through a two-way radio communication system, a HAM radio. The students managed the radio communication independently from the ground station for satellite communication at the Science Center in Herzliya in Israel. The initiative is part of the Rakia Mission and was led by The Ramon Foundation, NASA, the Israeli Amateur Radio Association, the Israel Space Agency, and ARISS (American Amateur Radio Association).

Stibbe also spoke with students from the Israeli Space-Startup program. This educational initiative for fifth and sixth graders uses space entrepreneurship practices to inspire students' curiosity about the world around them. Stibbe and the students started working on this project before the mission, and today's conversation was an important and exciting milestone in their project. Space-Startup encourages young students to specialize and excel in STEAM fields.

In addition, a festive event took place at the Rakia Mission Control Center in Tel Aviv, in which the artists participating in the Rakia Mission art project spoke to Stibbe and held a series of discussions about the arts and space. During the event, Stibbe presented artwork that used the unique physical conditions of microgravity, such as a sculpture created by radio waves and a specially designed ring to be worn in space.

Mark Pathy answered questions from students attending École Sir John Franklin High School in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Pathy shed light on how the rigorous training process prepared the crew for both the physical and mental aspects of the space mission.

Stibbe and Pathy spoke with students from the Selwyn House School, an independent K-11 boys' school located in Westmount, Quebec. They shared their experiences viewing Earth from the Cupola and some of their favorite experiments.

Pathy spent time in the Cupola with the blue planet in focus to gather imagery for Earth observation studies to gain deeper insights on changing planetary biology and human urbanization.

Ax-1 Crew Update: Flight Day 6

The crew is officially halfway into the mission, but there is more to be done before returning to Earth. Today was another busy day for the crew members as they continued conducting groundbreaking research and participating in outreach activities to inspire the global public.

The entire Ax-1 crew participated in an Earth-to-space call with local Houston students ages 8 to 18 attending a special event at Space Center Houston in Texas. The event served as a mid-way checkpoint for the crew and is one out of a series of in-flight events the Ax-1 astronauts are hosting with educational organizations to inspire and teach science, technology, engineering, art, and math to students around the globe. These STEAM-focused efforts are integral to each crew member’s desire to promote learning opportunities during the first private astronaut mission to the ISS.   

Earlier today Larry Connor shared personal reflections and explained the effects of microgravity on the body with Dr. Steven Nissen and his Cleveland Clinic colleagues. Connor is carrying out several research projects aboard the ISS to better understand aging and heart health in collaboration with Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. Connor also spoke with students to foster interest in STEAM and space careers from the Dayton Early College Academy, a public charter school in Ohio serving 1,300 students, K-12, who live in Dayton's most underserved communities.

Mark Pathy spoke with students from the Wikwemikong Pontiac School, a first nation education school serving students for the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve. Pathy explained how drinking water is processed on the ISS and what happens to your organs and blood when moving in an environment without gravity.  Recently, Pathy unveiled a winning piece of artwork from Indigenous schools. The artwork, inspired by Turtle Island, provides a message about the importance of Earth preservation for future generations. The effort is in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Geographical society. 

Ax-1 Commander Michael López-Alegría is currently on his fifth space mission. As commander, he assists the new astronauts in experiments, serves as a guide to life in microgravity, and ensures mission success. He also participates in several outreach efforts talking to journalists and organizations around the globe. 

Stibbe completed a space observation experiment (ILAN-ES) from the Cupola to study the electrical phenomena above thunderstorms, known as Transient Luminous Events. As part of the experiment, Stibbe photographed a lightning storm over Darwin, Australia, while the researcher leading the study, Prof. Yoav Yair, dean of the Reichman University School of Sustainability, accompanied him from the Rakia Mission Control Center in Tel Aviv. Daily predictions about the location of the storm are transmitted to Stibbe at the ISS by a team of scientists that guides him on where to point the camera. This protocol is similar to procedures of the MEIDEX experiment, which was conducted onboard the Columbia space shuttle in 2003, by the late Col. Ilan Ramon. Observations of these events from space will be compared with imagery taken of the same events from the ground to enhance understanding of the electrical processes in the atmosphere and to determine whether there’s a connection with climate change.

As part of the Rakia Mission, four scientific experiments that were developed by Israeli middle school students and as part of the SpaceLab project will be conducted at the ISS. SpaceLab, led by the Ramon Foundation, is the leading educational project in Israel in the field of space. The project gives students a unique opportunity to submit an experiment to the ISS after they have completed a project-based learning program. The experiments that are part of Stibbe's Rakia Mission are examining the effect of microgravity on microbiota, microbiota reaction to antibiotics, and how microgravity affects the speed of biodegradation of PET plastic by Ideonella Sakaiensis bacteria. These experiments also examine the effect of adding Moringa seed powder and copper pieces on the growth of E. coli germs under microgravity conditions and how microgravity affects the transfection rate of nano-ghosts to lung cancer cells.

Pathy successfully completed the third and final session of holoportation by evaluating the use of augmented reality technology to create a holo-presence of the crew on Earth and its Earth-based counterpart back up to space. This behavioral support activity can immediately improve the ISS crew member’s feeling of connectedness to loved ones and confidants on Earth. 

All of the astronauts are completing daily sessions to evaluate whether the development of emotional distress can be detected by continuous app-based monitoring of basic Central Nervous System (CNS) functions. A combination of wearable sensors along with a self-report questionnaire and functional testing mobile application will allow accurate monitoring of stress levels among crew members throughout their space journey. 

As the crew inches closer to its final days on the ISS, each astronaut will continue working around the clock to ensure the appropriate measures and preparations are being made to finalize the more than 25 scientific experiments currently being conducted aboard the space station as part of the world’s first all-private astronaut mission on the ISS. 

Axiom Space Private Astronauts Speak with Students at Space Center Houston

Space Center Houston hosted local area students for a special space-to-ground video call with Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station. The Ax-1 crew, the first all-private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, took questions for 20 minutes from students ages 9 to 18 about what it’s like to work and live aboard the space station.

The event, which occurred on Wednesday, April 13 at 11:35 a.m. CT in the auditorium of Space Center Houston, included all Ax-1 crewmembers, Commander Michael López-Alegría, Pilot Larry Connor, and Mission Specialists Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy. 

Commander López-Alegría answered some questions in English and Spanish from the Houston-based kids. 

The Ax-1 mission launched on Friday, April 8, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Ax-1 is the first all-private astronaut mission to the ISS and the first of several proposed missions to the space station from Axiom Space, a leader in human spaceflight, now building the first commercial space station. During their time in space, the crew members will work on more than 25 experiments, contributing to a broad range of scientific research.

Ax-1 Crew Update: Flight Day 5

The team is buzzing at Axiom Mission Control Center (MCC-A) in Houston as it assists the crew conducting groundbreaking research and integrating commercial payloads while on the International Space Station.  Today was a busy day for science with the Ax-1 crew.  

Eytan Stibbe worked on the Nano ISS Antenna experiment, a deployable reflector antenna for high bandwidth communications, which was developed by the Israeli startup company NSLComm. The antenna must be tested in microgravity, as it does not hold its shape under Earth's gravity. This test is the last qualification activity of the antenna before the 2022 launch of NSLASAT-2, an ESA (European Space Agency) satellite.  

Ax-1 Commander Michael López-Alegría worked on the Modeling Tumor Organoids Experiment, a cancer stem cell proof of concept project that will leverage the accelerated aging aspects of the microgravity environment to evaluate early pre-cancer and cancer changes in stem cells.  

The human body undergoes complex adaptation when exposed to extreme conditions of space travel. The Cardioprotection experiment led by Larry Connor, with contributions from crewmates like Pathy, will provide human data on the impact of spaceflight on cardiac function. These tests will reveal how to fly a more diverse population of space travelers. 

With a focus on Earth observations, Mark Pathy executed his scientific study of changing planetary biology and human urbanization. Using images Pathy captured from the cupola on the ISS, researchers from Western University in Canada will analyze and present a pictorial review of the impact of human and natural pressures on our terrestrial ecosystem.  

To better prepare for long-term space missions, the Neurowellness technology demonstration includes a large helmet developed by the Israeli company Brain.Space, which the crew members wear on their heads to test cognitive performance and brain activity. The experiment led by Stibbe is also supported by Connor and López-Alegría.  

Stibbe conducted an experiment on Fluidic Space Optics project that aims to better understand liquid polymer behavior and how microgravity affects liquid deployment and solidification of the polymer into optical lenses components. This demonstration aims to show in-space manufacturing can significantly improve the production of optics for deep space astronomy. The experiment is headed by the faculty of mechanical engineering at the Technion and in collaboration with NASA. 

Stibbe also worked on two experiments, which are carried out daily to support the field of remote medicine: The Urinary Microbiome experiment by researchers Dr. Ben Boursi from the Oncology Center at Sheba Medical Center and Dr. Paul Chang at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in the United States; and an experiment for remote detection of the onset and development of emotional distress and stressful situations. The latter is led by Dr. Harel Baris of Sheba MC clinicians and researchers at ARC, Sheba Centre for Medical Innovation, and the Department of Psychiatry at Sheba MC and their partners at Thomas Jefferson University in the United States.  

During its time on the International Space Station, the multinational crew of Ax-1 will be doing outreach activities in five languages. Today, the Axiom astronauts spoke to diverse groups all around the world about their historic mission. 

Connor spoke with students at Dayton Regional STEM School students, a public independent STEM school serving students in grades 6-12 from across the Dayton community. He also connected with students and families at The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, a children's museum, science and technology center, and zoo in Dayton, Ohio, that focuses on science and natural history. At both events, Connor answered questions on a range of issues from his research to sharing his experiences of life aboard the space station.  

Stibbe spoke to reporters in Israel, discussing his mission as the first Israeli astronaut to visit the ISS. 

Pathy participated in a number of events across his home country of Canada. He hosted a live talk on STEM with students at St. Patrick High School in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. He answered questions from children from the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation in Montreal, Quebec. Pathy also participated in an engaging session with students from the Shawanosowe School in Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Pathy is Canada's 2nd private astronaut and the 12th Canadian to go to space. 

With the end of the fifth day of the mission, the crew has officially reached the halfway mark of its time in space. 

More than 25 ISS National Lab-sponsored Investigations on first all-private astronaut mission to the space station

Courtesy of SpaceX

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (FL), April 11, 2022 – On Friday, April 8, the launch of the first all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS), Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1), marked the beginning of a new era of privatized utilization of the orbiting laboratory. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft lifted off from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying four Axiom Space astronauts: Commander and former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría, Pilot Larry Connor, and Mission Specialists Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy. SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft docked with the ISS on Saturday, and the four Axiom crew members were welcomed onboard. Over the span of eight days on the space station, the Ax-1 crew members will conduct dozens of research experiments, many of which are sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory. In total, the ISS National Lab is sponsoring more than 25 experiments associated with the Ax-1 mission.

Ax-1 Crew Update: Flight Day 4

The Axiom Astronauts began a full slate of science and outreach activities. The crew members continue to get accustomed to life in microgravity, learning how to move their bodies in the constant free-fall environment of the International Space Station (ISS).    

The four-person multi-national Ax-1 team brings the total number of occupants on the station to 11 individuals living on the orbiting laboratory. Like most astronauts, the Ax-1 crew members are tightly scheduled throughout their eight days on the ISS, often down to planning five-minute increments. With a full ISS complement ensuring every crew member accomplishes his daily tasks, the ISS mission planners play a real-life Tetris game for space.    

The astronauts are tasked with many responsibilities, including capturing images via pictures and videos. All crew members received extensive training on how to use the media equipment to accurately capture Earth observations, scientific investigations, technology demonstrations, and record rich content for future use.    

Crew members also will document their meals and navigation around the space station.  

Throughout the week crew members will participate in educational STEAM activities. Ax-1 Mission Specialist Eytan Stibbe participated in several events supporting the Rakia Mission. Under the banner "There is No Dream Beyond Reach" one of Rakia's goals is to inspire a new generation to dream big. Stibbe is using his time on the ISS to develop engaging content for students in Israel. He’ll answer questions, complete STEAM educational programming, and conduct science experiments.    

Today the crew began working on its robust science portfolios, composed of more than 25 experiments and technology demonstrations.  Some examples:  

Ax-1 Commander Michael López-Alegría installed edge computing capabilities that will contribute to the future of smart space stations.    

Ax-1 Pilot Larry Connor, working with the Mayo Clinic on Aging and Heart Health, brought human cells to test the effects of microgravity on the heart. Today he started to examine the impact of microgravity on those cells, which can help us better understand aging.     

Ax-1 Mission Specialist Mark Pathy demonstrated the value of bringing augmented reality to space by setting up the Holoportation system. These interactive two-way Holoportation sessions will afford the ability of future crew members to explore deep space with the ability to bring friends, family, and physicians close with them so that they can get an on-Earth experience. This technology has potential applications for telemedicine on Earth.  

Axiom Space’s science is turning sci-fi into reality. 

Axiom Ax-1 Astronaut, Larry Connor, first to reach space, ocean depths in a year

Dayton, Ohio – Real estate and technology entrepreneur Larry Connor successfully piloted the historic Ax-1 mission to outer space Friday, the first fully private mission to the International Space Station. The launch makes him the first person in history to reach space and the deepest parts of the ocean within one year.

“I’ve always encouraged others to dream big, aim high and set impossible goals,” Connor said. “Nothing is impossible unless you think it is impossible. Both of these feats are great challenges that came with great responsibility.”

Ax-1 Crew Update: Flight Day 3

The Ax-1 crew has begun their work aboard the International Space Station (ISS). They are adjusting to working in microgravity and becoming familiar with the various aspects of living onboard the station. For most of the day, the crew prepared the science and equipment needed on the orbiting lab as they head into a full week of research and outreach activities.

Ax-1 Astronaut Eytan Stibbe spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday via video call. Stibbe is Israel’s second astronaut and the first Israeli to ever make it to the ISS.

Flight Day One was launch and Flight Day Two was docking and arrival.

CBS Mornings - SpaceX and Axiom to send 4 private astronauts on weeklong stay at International Space Station

Former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria will command Axiom 1, the first all-private mission to the International Space Station. Mark Strassmann previews the mission. 

Our favorite moments from the Ax-1 Launch

Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1), the first all-private mission to the ISS launched from NASA’s historic Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A on April 8, 2022 on a SpaceX Dragon and Falcon 9.

Relive some of our favorite moments below. Check out more imagery on our Giphy, YouTube, and Flickr libraries. Tell us which is your favorite part of the Ax-1 mission on social with the hashtag #Ax1.

Crew Dry Dress

Practice makes perfect. A picture perfect day welcomed the crew of Ax-1 during the dry dress rehearsal. 

Crew walkout

The Ax-1 crew is the first set of Axiom astronauts to travel to space. The launch webcast started with this iconic image of the Ax-1 crew walking out of the suit-up room from SpaceX’s Falcon Support building.

Larry Connor Greets SpaceX

Showing off his ninja skills, Larry Connor greets the SpaceX suit technicians known as SpaceX ninjas before traveling up the elevator on Pad 39A. Stibbe cheers him on. The pad ninjas, wearing all black, assist the crew board the Dragon spacecraft.

Crew Ingress

Let’s light this candle! Mark Pathy and Michael Lopez-Alegria, followed by Larry Connor and Eytan Stibbe walk down the crew access arm toward the Dragon spacecraft.

Crew ready for launch

All strapped in and ready to go! The Ax-1 astronauts have boarded the Dragon spacecraft and are ready to launch to the International Space Station for the 10-day mission to space, becoming the first all-private mission to the orbiting laboratory.

Michael López-Alegría & Eytan Stibbe sign off

The crew shares inspirational words ahead of their historic journey. Eytan Stibbe recites key lines from Ithaka by the Greek poet, Constantine Cavafy, “…Arriving there is what you’re destined for. But don’t hurry the journey at all…” While Michael López-Alegría thanks the many teams that made this mission possible.

Liftoff

“Together a new chapter begins. Godspeed Ax1,” said Axiom’s John Rackham on the Ax-1 launch webcast. The Ax-1 mission signals a new era in commercial human spaceflight and the first step in Axiom’s plans of building the first commercial space station.

“Zero-G and we feel fine”

Michael López-Alegría gives a quick report from his commander seat inside the Dragon as the spacecraft enters orbit and the Falcon 9 lands on the SpaceX droneship.

Caramel the Dog in orbit

The Ax-1 crew and their zero gravity indicator, Montreal Children's Hospital mascot Caramel the Dog, acclimate to weightlessness in their first live check-in from orbit on Saturday, April 9, at around 2:30 a.m. ET. The crew, and their mascot, remain full of energy.

Stunning views as Dragon approaches the ISS

Jaw-dropping Earth views surround the Dragon spacecraft carrying the Ax-1 crew as they approach the ISS for docking.

Dragon docks at the ISS

After a journey of almost 21 hours, Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria, Larry Connor, Eytan Stibbe, and Mark Pathy arrived at the International Space Station at 8:29 a.m. EDT Saturday, April 9. The SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft docked to the orbital lab about 260 miles above the Atlantic Ocean.

Welcome Aboard

With the addition of the Ax-1 crew, there are now 11 humans living on the International Space Station. The Expedition 67 astronauts welcomed their new crewmates. Shortly after, Commander MLA conducted a pinning ceremony for the new astronauts, Connor, Stibbe, and Pathy.

For more mission moments, follow our mission updates.

Axiom Space celebrates arrival of Ax-1 crew to International Space Station

The historic Ax-1 crew has arrived at the International Space Station. Commander Michael López-Alegría, Pilot Larry Connor, Mission Specialist Eytan Stibbe, and Mission Specialist Mark Pathy entered the space station shortly after the hatch opened at 10:13 a.m. EDT on Saturday, April 9.   

The Axiom astronauts were welcomed by Expedition 67 crew members, including NASA astronauts Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev, Sergey Korsokov, and Denis Matveev. With the addition of the Ax astronauts there are now 11 people working and living on the orbiting laboratory.  

The crew received a call from the ground from NASA’s Kathy Lueders, Associate Administrator for Space Operations and Michael Suffredini, President and CEO, Axiom Space who congratulated the crew for making history as the first all-private astronaut crew to the International Space Station.   

Shortly after, López-Alegría, in his role as mission commander, pinned Connor, Stibbe, and Pathy with a pin from the Association of Space Explorers (ASE), signifying their status as astronauts and official start of their journey aboard the space station.  ASE, an international association of astronauts who have flown into Earth orbit and beyond, created the pin as a universal astronaut insignia to unite space explorers and travelers.  

"There's a tradition when you pass a certain boundary you become an astronaut. That happened to these three gentlemen for the first time yesterday. Now I'd like to note it officially," López-Alegría explained before pinning each of his Ax-1 crewmates. "When I pin these on -- I think the numbers are 582, 583, and 584 for Larry, Eytan, and Mark -- I hope they will wear these with the pride they deserve." 

The Ax-1 crew will live and work aboard the orbiting laboratory for eight days, conducting more than 25 research experiments across a breadth of biological and technological areas to inform future human spaceflight and improve life on Earth. Ax-1 is the first of several proposed Axiom Space missions to the International Space Station, and a critical first step toward Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station.    

Follow along for mission updates with #Ax1 on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  

Ax-1, first all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, docks

After a journey of almost 21 hours, Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria, Larry Connor, Eytan Stibbe, and Mark Pathy arrived at the International Space Station at 8:29 a.m. EDT Saturday, April 9. The SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft docked to the orbital complex while the spacecraft were flying about 260 miles above the Atlantic Ocean. 

Dragon’s docking was delayed approximately 45 minutes as the space station teams, including mission controls at NASA and SpaceX, worked to troubleshoot an issue preventing the crew members on station from receiving views from Dragon’s center line camera of the Harmony’s modules docking port. Mission teams worked to route video using a SpaceX ground station to the crew on the space station allowing Dragon to proceed with docking.  

Following Dragon’s link up to the Harmony module, NASA astronaut and station commander Tom Marshburn will pressurize the space in between the Dragon and station hatches and perform a leak check before opening the hatches to welcome the private astronaut crew. 

Once aboard the station, the Axiom crew will be welcomed by Expedition 67 crew members, including NASA astronauts Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev, Sergey Korsokov, and Denis Matveev.  

The Ax-1 crew is the first all-private astronaut crew to travel to the ISS. 

Follow along for mission updates with #Ax1 on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  

Ax-1 Crew First Check-In From Orbit

The Ax-1 astronauts did a quick check-in from the SpaceX Dragon during their journey to the International Space Station. The crew shared a few of their first experiences of being in space:

The Axiom crew is scheduled to arrive at the International Space Station on Saturday, April 9 at approximately 7:45 a.m. ET