Axiom Space and SpaceX are now targeting no earlier than Sunday, April 3 – pending range availability – for launch of the Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida After 10 days in orbit, including eight days living and working aboard the orbiting laboratory, the Ax-1 crew will splash down off the coast of Florida. The new targeted launch date will allow teams to complete final spacecraft processing ahead of the mission.
Prelaunch activities are progressing, including the Ax-1 crew’s completion of a test drive Thursday, March 17, in the Dragon spacecraft they’ll fly aboard to and from the International Space Station. During the test drive – also known as the Crew Equipment Interface Test (CEIT) – the crew donned their spacesuits and entered Dragon Endeavour for the first time at SpaceX’s spacecraft processing facility in Florida.