AX3

A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the Ax-3 crew splashed down off the coast of Daytona, FL on February 9. Credit: Axiom SpaceAx-3’s splashdown off the Florida coast concludes the first all-European commercial space mission, showcasing international collaboration and advancements in space exploration, with Axiom Space at the forefront of developing the world’s first commercial space station.After undocking from the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday, February 7, the Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew safely splashed…

A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the Ax-3 crew splashed down off the coast of Daytona, FL on February 9. Credit: Axiom SpaceAx-3’s successful return from the International Space Station marks a key milestone in NASA’s plan to foster a commercial space economy, emphasizing the growing accessibility and commercial potential of low Earth orbit.The third private astronaut mission to the International Space Station successfully completed its journey as part of NASA efforts to create commercial opportunities in space. Axiom…

Expedition 70 Flight Engineers (from left) Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara, both NASA astronauts, are pictured inside the cupola with Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus resupply ship outside in the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm. Credit: SciTechDaily.comThe Expedition 70 crew was in the middle of its shift aboard the International Space Station (ISS) when the Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew splashed down off the coast of Florida on Friday. The seven orbital residents were exploring how microgravity affects bone cells and optical…

Thrusters on the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft fire automatically while adjusting the vehicle’s slow, methodical approach toward the International Space Station for a docking to the Harmony module’s forward port. Credit: NASAAx-3 mission concludes as SpaceX Dragon heads home with astronauts and science aboard, aiming for a Florida coast return.The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft undocked from the space-facing port of the International Space Station’s Harmony module at 9:20 a.m. EST over the Pacific Ocean, west of Ecuador, to…

This high exposure photograph from the International Space Station shows Earth’s atmospheric glow and a starry sky as the orbital complex soared 258 miles above the Pacific Ocean northeast of Papua New Guinea. At left, are the station’s Nauka science module and the Prichal docking module, both from Roscosmos. Credit: NASAFour Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) astronauts continue waiting for favorable weather conditions before ending their stay at the International Space Station (ISS). Meanwhile, the seven-member Expedition 70 crew…

The International Space Station soars 266 miles above the coast of Argentina near the Rio de la Plata as it flies into an orbital sunset. In the foreground from left are, the station’s main solar arrays, the Canadarm2 robotic arm, and the Kibo laboratory module’s external platform. Credit: NASAFour private astronauts comprising the Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew continue to target Tuesday for their departure from the International Space Station and return to Earth. In the meantime, the seven Expedition 70 crew members are…

The 11 crew members representing the Expedition 70 (red shirts) and Axiom Space 3 (dark blue suits) crews gather for a farewell ceremony calling down to mission controllers on Earth. Credit: NASA TVThe Expedition 70 and Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crews called down to Mission Control on Friday for a farewell ceremony as the four private astronauts target their departure for Saturday morning. (Subsequently, the undocking has been delayed until Monday, February 5, due to weather conditions off the coast of Florida.) The orbital…

The SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft carrying the four-member Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew is pictured approaching the International Space Station 260 miles above China north of the Himalayas. Credit: NASAEleven astronauts and cosmonauts from around the world are living and working together aboard the International Space Station (ISS) today, January 22. The four Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) private astronauts met the seven Expedition 70 crew members on Saturday beginning two weeks of dual operations.The Ax-3 crew spent the…

The SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft carrying four Axiom MIssion 3 astronauts is pictured docked to the space station shortly after an orbital sunrise. Credit: NASA TVThe Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) astronauts have successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the third entirely private crew mission. Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) astronauts Michael López-Alegría, Walter Villadei, Marcus Wandt, and Alper Gezeravci are now aboard the International Space Station following Dragon’s hatch opening at 7:13 a.m. EST…

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft is launched on the Ax-3 mission to the space station. Credit: SpaceXThe seven-member Expedition 70 crew will welcome the third private astronaut mission from Axiom Space to the International Space Station on Saturday. The Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) mission lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday carrying four astronauts aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The foursome will conduct a two-week research and education mission on the…