What is the primary purpose of the Ax-2 mission?
Axiom Space’s Ax-2: What to Know About the 2nd Private Astronaut Mission to the Space Station
Introduction
Private companies are increasingly joining the race to explore the final frontier, and Axiom Space is one such company. Earlier this year, Axiom Space made history by becoming the first private firm to send astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). Now, the company is set to embark on its second private astronaut mission, dubbed Ax-2. Here’s what you need to know about it.
Background on Axiom Space
Axiom Space is a Houston-based startup founded in 2016 by former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría. The company is focused on building and operating a commercial space station, which it expects will be completed in the coming years. In the meantime, Axiom is offering private astronaut missions to the ISS, making it the first private company to do so.
About the Ax-2 Mission
The Ax-2 mission is scheduled to launch in the fall of 2022 and will be Axiom’s second private astronaut mission to the ISS. The mission will be carried out using a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and will last around ten days. The spacecraft will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
The Crew
The Ax-2 mission will have a crew of four, including three paying customers who will become the first private citizens to fly to the ISS without professional astronaut training. The three individuals have not yet been identified, but they will undergo extensive training before the flight. The fourth member of the crew will be a professional astronaut from Axiom Space who will serve as the commander of the mission.
The Cost
The cost of the Ax-2 mission has not been disclosed, but previous reports indicate that a private astronaut mission to the ISS can cost anywhere between $50 million and $75 million. However, Axiom is not just targeting wealthy individuals; the company’s long-term goal is to make space travel more accessible to everyone, and it expects the cost to go down as the industry grows.
Conclusion
Axiom Space’s Ax-2 mission is an exciting development in the world of commercial space travel. As private companies like Axiom continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in space, we can expect to see more opportunities for private citizens to explore the final frontier. While the price tag may be beyond most people’s reach at the moment, the hope is that it will become more accessible in the future, allowing more people to experience the wonders of space travel.