NASA Picks Axiom Space for 5th Private Astronaut Mission
▼ Summary
– NASA and Axiom Space have signed an order for a fifth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, targeted to launch no earlier than January 2027.
– The mission, Axiom Mission 5, is expected to last up to 14 days aboard the station, with its specific launch date dependent on orbital traffic and planning.
– Axiom Space will propose four crew members for review and training with NASA and its international partners for the mission.
– The mission involves a service exchange where Axiom purchases resources from NASA, and NASA purchases cold sample return capability from Axiom.
– These private astronaut missions are seen as building commercial capabilities in low Earth orbit and contributing to NASA’s future Moon and Mars exploration goals.
NASA has solidified its partnership with Axiom Space by awarding the company a fifth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. This mission, designated Axiom Mission 5, is currently scheduled for launch no earlier than January 2027 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The continued collaboration underscores a significant shift in how human spaceflight operations are conducted, integrating commercial providers into the core framework of space station access and utilization.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the tangible progress represented by this new order. He stated that these missions demonstrate commercial space is already a functioning reality, not just a future concept. By fostering greater access and encouraging competition in low Earth orbit, these private astronaut flights are developing the operational experience and capabilities NASA will need for its ambitious goals of lunar and Martian exploration. The agency anticipates many more such missions in the coming years.
The planned mission duration is up to two weeks aboard the orbital laboratory. Pinpointing an exact launch date will depend on several logistical factors, including the schedule of other visiting spacecraft and overall station activity. Dana Weigel, International Space Station Program manager at Johnson Space Center, highlighted the station’s evolving role. She described it as a critical proving ground for new commercial markets and technologies, enabling scientific research and outreach that fuels the expanding space economy.
For this flight, Axiom Space will propose a crew of four individuals for review and approval by NASA and its international partners. Following confirmation, the astronauts will undergo comprehensive training with NASA, partner agencies, and the designated launch provider. Axiom Space President and CEO Jonathan Cirtain expressed honor at receiving the award, noting that the previous four missions have successfully broadened the community of space explorers and diversified microgravity research. He added that the insights gained are directly informing the development of Axiom Station, the company’s planned next-generation commercial space station.
The financial and service arrangements for the mission follow a now-established pattern. Axiom Space will purchase necessary services from NASA, such as crew supplies, cargo delivery, and in-orbit resources for daily use. In a reciprocal agreement, NASA will contract with Axiom for the return of sensitive scientific samples that require cold storage during the journey back to Earth.
NASA selected Axiom for this mission from proposals submitted in response to a 2025 research announcement. The agency is also in the final stages of ordering a sixth private astronaut mission and will release details when the process is complete. All missions to the International Space Station, including these commercially crewed expeditions, play a vital role in advancing science and testing new technologies. This work directly supports NASA’s overarching exploration plans, which aim to return humans to the Moon through the Artemis program and eventually send crews to Mars.
(Source: NASA)
