Axiom Space Clears Major Milestone as it Prepares to Connect Axiom Station to International Space Station

Axiom Space recently reached a significant milestone in the development of its flight operations with the successful execution of the first simulated mission of the Payload, Power, and Thermal Module (PPTM).

The scenario involved an approach initiation burn to guide PPTM toward the International Space Station (ISS) for rendezvous and capture. To ensure the most realistic operational conditions possible, the flight control team employed voice loops and standard mission tools, mirroring real-world mission execution.

Conducted within Axiom Space’s Mission Control Center-A (MCC-A), this effort brought together across-disciplinary team of simulator engineers, user interface display developers, and the Mission Services flight control team to integrate previously separate efforts into a cohesive operational framework. The team used prototype displays for guidance, navigation and control (GNC), propulsion, communication, and power systems.

This demonstration served as a critical step in aligning the infrastructure and personnel necessary to prepare Axiom Space for future space station flight operations. The primary objective was to establish and test the flow of real-time data from the simulator to vehicle displays within the MCC-A infrastructure. A secondary objective focused on exercising these tools in a controlled environment, allowing an experienced flight control team to assess the tools’ effectiveness.

A dynamic, computer-generated real-time display of the PPTM model in flight was projected onto the front wall of MCC-A, providing a visual representation of the module’s trajectory over Earth. As the scenario unfolded, the teams worked through scripted failures, yielding valuable insights into vehicle data presentation, simulation model accuracy, and tool usability in an operational setting.

“A crucial component of flight controller training is the ability to respond to system malfunctions, a capability rigorously tested during this simulation,” said Dave Wiedmeyer, Director of Mission Operations, Axiom Space. “In the weeks leading up to the demonstration, the broader team developed a structured malfunction script based on existing subsystem models. These scripts enabled the flight control team to refine prototype procedures and establish preliminary flight rules governing response protocols for simulated failures.”

By the conclusion of the simulation, all objectives for the day—and for the demonstration as a whole—had been successfully achieved. Moving forward, the integrated team will define new demonstration objectives designed to further refine operational readiness and enhance training fidelity. As additional features and capabilities are incorporated, these simulations will continue to shape Axiom Space’s flight operations, ensuring the highest level of preparedness for future missions.

“This milestone marks a pivotal transition for Axiom Space’s Station Program—moving beyond a primarily development focus toward full-scale operational capability,” said Dave Romero, Axiom Station Program Manager. “As Axiom Space advances toward the realization of Axiom Station, rigorous simulations such as this not only guide the refinement of the hardware and software systems but also build the operational foundation for mission success, reinforcing the company’s leadership in the commercialization of space.”

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