Axiom Space invites media to briefing on first all-private crew launch to ISS

HOUSTON – Axiom Space will host a virtual press conference at 11 a.m. EST Monday, Feb. 28, to preview the launch of Ax-1, the first all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch is targeted for Wednesday, March 30 at 2:46 p.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

During the 10-day mission, which includes eight days aboard the space station, the four-person multi-national crew will complete more than 25 research experiments developed for microgravity in collaboration with leading health and science organizations across the globe. Axiom Space, a leader in human spaceflight and space infrastructure, is committed to the commercialization of low Earth orbit.

To participate in the virtual press conference, media must contact media@axiomspace.com by 5 p.m. EDT, Sunday, Feb. 27 to receive call-in details. The virtual press conference will be available on Axiom Space’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/axiomspace.

Watch Briefing

Briefing participants are:

• Michael Suffredini, President and CEO, Axiom
• Michael López-Alegría, Ax-1 Crew Commander, Axiom
• Christian Maender, Director, In-Space Research and Manufacturing, Axiom
• Kathy Lueders, Associate Administrator, Space Operations, NASA
• Robyn Gatens, Director, International Space Station, NASA
• Phil McAllister, Director, Commercial Spaceflight Division, NASA
• Benjamin Reed, Sr. Director, Human Spaceflight Programs, SpaceX

Ax-1’s crew includes Michael López-Alegría, Axiom vice president and former NASA astronaut, as commander; American entrepreneur and non-profit activist investor Larry Connor as pilot; investor and philanthropist Mark Pathy of Canada as mission specialist; and impact investor and philanthropist Eytan Stibbe of Israel as mission specialist. Axiom Space has contracted SpaceX to launch the Ax-1 crew to the International Space Station aboard a Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft.

Ax-1 is the first of several planned Axiom missions to the space station, each a critical step toward Axiom Station, the first private space station. This new method of access to low-Earth orbit is progress toward a next generation platform, which will serve as a center for scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs to pursue revolutionary breakthroughs in the unique environment of microgravity.