NASA will join the media conference call hosted by Axiom Space on Tuesday, May 20 at 10:30 a.m. to discuss the launch of Axiom Mission 4 (AX-4), the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station.
Briefing participants include:
To join the phone, the media must register at Axiom Space by 12pm on Monday, May 19:
The company's SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft launch targets less than 9:11 a.m. on Sunday, June 8, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
During the mission on the space station, four multinational staff will complete approximately 60 microgravity research experiments developed in collaboration with global organizations.
Former NASA astronaut and director of human space flight at Axiom Space will direct commercial missions, while ISRO astronaut Shubhanshushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushushus The two mission experts are ESA Project astronaut Sławoszuznańki-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
Axiom Mission 1's first private astronaut mission evacuated the 17-day mission of the Orbital Laboratory in April 2022. The second private astronaut mission, Axiom Mission 2, commanded by Whitson, was also in command and was launched in orbit for eight days in May 2023. The latest private astronaut mission, Axiom Mission 3, was launched in January 2024; crews spent 18 days docking to the space station.
The International Space Station is a springboard for the development of a low-earth economy. NASA’s goal is to achieve a strong economy on Earth, and the agency can purchase services as one of many customers to achieve its scientific and research goals of microgravity. NASA's business strategy for low-Earth orbit provides governments with reliable and secure services, allowing the agency to focus on Artemis missions on the moon in preparation for Mars, while also continuing to use low-Earth orbit as a training and testing ground for these deep space missions.
Learn more about NASA's business space strategy in the following areas:
- Ending-
Claire O'Shea
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
claire.ao'shea@nasa.gov
Anna Schneider
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
anna.c.schneider@nasa.gov
Alexis Leavenelte
Houston Axiom Space
alixiis@axiomspace.com