Title: Axom-3 Mission launched to ISS on 18 January 2024.
The Axiom 3 mission (Ax-3) to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on 18 January 2024 from Pad 39A of Kennedy Space Centre (KSC) in Florida, USA.
Ax-3 was the third Private Astronaut Mission (PAM) and the product of a collaboration between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the private company Axiom Space.
After a successful launch and insertion into orbit, the Dragon Freedom capsule carrying the astronauts docked into the ISS on Saturday 20 January. The crew were greeted by fellow astronauts living at the station.
The crew returned to Earth on 09 February 2024 having completed a successful mission.
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Updates
09feb2024: Return to Earth.02feb2024: Goodbye to ISS.
Background
Axiom 3 crew.About Axiom 3 mission.
Ax-3 Patch.
Zero-gravity GiGi.
A research mission.
Ax-3 Launch.
Ax-3 Dragon docking into ISS.
Arrival and welcome to ISS.
Working at ISS.
UPDATE
Ax-3 mission returns to Earth: Re-entry and Splashdown – 09feb2024
After a 47-hour journey back to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS), the Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew splashed down off the coast of Daytona, Florida on 09 February 2024.
The Ax-3 crew spent 18 days (435 hours) onboard the ISS, which orbits the Earth at a speed of 28,000 km/h. They lived and worked at the stations during 288 orbits, covering the equivalent length of 12.2 million kilometres on the surface of our planet.
Having completed their mission successfully, the astronauts were exhilarated and proud. All the stages of their journey went well and “nominally”, and they were able to achieve their goal of performing more than 30 experiments during their stay at ISS.
Ax-3 Mission concluded with a successful splash down off the coast of Florida on 09 February 2024. Axiom, 2024.
After undocking on 07 February, the Dragon capsule gradually approached our planet following a carefully choreographed set of events:
- Departure burn: After separation from the ISS, the Dragon capsule fired its forward-facing Draco Thrusters to adjust its trajectory and speed in preparation for re-entry.
- Trunk detachment: The crew then jettisoned the unpressurised Trunk, the cylindrical section attached to the bottom of the capsule.
- Deorbit burn: Running entirely on batteries, the Dragon capsule performed a 9-minute deorbit burn before closing the cone.
- Re-entry: Once the Dragon entered the atmosphere there was an expected 7-minute loss of communication, known as Loss of Signal (LOS), caused by friction of the spacecraft as it pushed through increasing amounts of air particles, which cause the formation of super-heated plasma around the vehicle. As the capsule slowed down, the plasma dissipated, and communications resumed. To prevent the astronauts from heating up, Nitrox gas is circulated in the cabin and their suits.
- Parachutes deployment: First, two small Drogue parachutes were released to stabilise the spacecraft. A minute later, the 4 main parachutes were released to slow down the vehicle from 560 km/h to 28 km/h.
Graphic showing the stages of the return flight from departure burn to splashdown. NASA, Axiom 2024.
- Splashdown: The Dragon capsule splashed down on the calm waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Daytona, Florida.
Composite image of the moment of splash down on the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Daytona, Florida, USA. NASA, Axiom 2024.
- Recovery: The recovery teams approached the capsule within 30 minutes of splashdown and towed the spacecraft to the recovery vessel, which winched the Dragon onto a soft nest and aligned the side hatch with a platform.
Ater opening the hatch, the medical personnel were the first to greet the astronauts inside the capsule and after verifying that everyone was fit to continue, they helped the astronauts exit the capsule one at a time. Coming out last was Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria, who gave a triumphant smile at the end of the mission.
Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria smiles outside the Dragon Freedom capsule marking the end of the Ax-3 mission. 09 February 2024. NASA, Axiom 2024.
Watch the Ax-3 Return video by NASA (2hr).
UPDATE
Ax-3 says goodbye after completing mission at ISS – 02feb2024
On 02 February 2024, the members of Expedition 70, living at ISS, said goodbye to Mission Axiom-3, who successfully achieved their research objectives in their 2-week stay at the station.
Expedition 70 included Commander and ESA’s Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen (depicted in the centre of the image wearing a red polo shirt).
Axiom-3 astronauts took turn to give their message of appreciation to their hosts, their ground team, and in their own language, to their country teams.
Axiom-3 astronauts thanking their hosts, Expedition 70 at ISS at the end of their stay at the station. NASA 02 February 2024.
Watch the farewell video by NASA (9min).
AXIOM 3 CREW
This is the first all-European crew on this programme and also the first time to include an ESA sponsored astronaut, Marcus Wandt.
Commander Michael López-Alegría (Spain/USA).Commander Michael López-Alegría (Spain/USA, Axiom Space, 6th flight): A former aviator and NASA astronaut who completed 3 space shuttle flights and a Soyuz mission. He made a record number of space walks and the longest accumulating time outside a spacecraft. Inducted into the US Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2020. In Axiom Space, he is the chief astronaut and served as commander of the Axion-1 mission, which flew to ISS in April 2022.
Pilot Walter Villadei (Italy).Pilot Walter Villadei (Italy, MDD, 2nd flight): A flight engineer of the Italian Air Force who represents his institution in the USA, he was the first Italian to qualify as a Cosmonaut and Space Engineer. This is his first flight to lower orbit as the first Italian to take up the post of Dragon Pilot.
Mission Specialist Marcus Wandt (Sweden).Mission Specialist Marcus Wandt (Sweden, SNSA/ESA, 1st flight): A Lieutenant Colonel of the Swedish Airforce, who flew 9 years as a fighter pilot and graduate from the US test-pilot school. He was selected as Astronaut Reserve by ESA in 2022 and he is the first ESA representative in an Axiom flight.
Mission Specialists Alper Gezeravcı (Türkiye).Mission Specialists Alper Gezeravcı (Türkiye, TSA, 1st flight): An experienced aircraft pilot who flew the F-16 aircraft and the commercial B-737 as Captain. He has a Master’s degree from the US Airforce Institute of Technology.
ABOUT AXIOM SPACE
In 2019, NASA opened up the International Space Station for commercial activity and since then they have worked with many private industries to prepare for the future of Low Earth Orbit. NASA’s plan is to no longer remain a provider of Low Earth Orbit destinations but to become a customer that purchases commercially owned and operated services. To reach that goal ISS began to enable private astronaut missions that will help refine and mature the processes needed for a future when NASA and private astronauts will work together.
Axiom Space is one of those companies.
Michael T. Suffredini and Kam Ghaffarian, funders of Axiom Space Inc.
Axiom Space Inc. or Axiom Space, is a privately funded space infrastructure developer company based in Houston, Texas, USA. It was founded in 2016 by NASA-retired programme manager for ISS Michael T. Suffredini, and Iranian-born American engineer and businessman Kam Ghaffarian. The company aims to own and operate the first commercial space station in the late 2020s and they are interested in research, manufacturing and exploration in space.
Axiom Space has very tight commercial links with NASA, employing some key former NASA personnel, e.g., former administrator Charles Bolden and astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria and Brent W. Jett. NASA selected Axiom Space to provide the first commercial destination module (Hab one or Ax-H1) to attach to the Harmony forward port on ISS.
The first Axiom mission to the ISS (Ax-1) launched on 08 April 2022, Ax-2 on 23 May 2023 and now Ax-3 on 18 January 2024.
Modules will later be added to start the development of the Axiom Station (Ax-H2, Research and manufacturing module and Power thermal module), once it is detached from ISS. The latter is due to retire by 2030, dismantled and disposed via Atmospheric Re-entry.
Axiom Station of the future in orbit. Axiom Space, 2024.
AX-3 PATCH
Axiom mission patches: Ax-1 flew in 2022; Ax-2 in 2023, and Ax-3 in 2024.
The design of the mission’s patch is a tradition that started with NASA’s Gemini programme in the 1960s. All those who worked in the mission can wear the patch proudly as a symbol of their contribution and ownership.
The Axiom-3 patch is shaped as a shield to illustrate strength and courage and features the ISS in gold in perspective to emulate wings because all the crew members are aviator pilots and also symbolising piloting to orbit tough the spirit of exploration and collaboration.
The 4 stars represent the 4 European nations and at the top there are the flags of 5 nations: Türkiye, Spain, USA, Italy, and Sweden.
The Earth in wireframe represents bridging cultural divides to advance human knowledge and prosperity.
The number 100 celebrates the centennial for Italy and Türkiye, and the number 500 celebrates the fifth centennial (jubilee) for Sweden.
The Latin “PLVS VLTRA” is the mission’s motto, meaning “Further, Beyond”.
The official Patch was added to the collection of mission patches in a celebration that took place at Building 9 of Johnson Space Centre in Huston, Texas.
Ax-3 Patch added to the collection of mission patches at Johnson Space Centre, Texas. Axion.com.
ZERO GRAVITY
GiGi the Zero-gravity indicator bear. Yahoo.com, 2022.Following the astronaut tradition of bringing a “Zero-gravity indicator” to celebrate their insertion into orbit, Ax-3 Mission carried a teddy bear named GiGi.
GiGi wears a black and blue “Next generation lunar spacesuit” with orange highlights.
More about GiGi at CollectSpace (link open in new tab/window).
A RESEARCH MISSION
Dr Lucie Low from Axiom Space on research. NASA, 2024.Axiom-3 was a 14-day privately funded research mission to conduct 36 experiments in over 350hr of research on human health, wellbeing, radiation exposure, genetic expression and Earth observations.
Dr Lucie Low from Axiom Space expanded on the research aims of a sample of topics:
The Italian experiments were led by the Italian Air Force (ItAF) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI).
- Space object cataloguing: The Italian Space Operations Centre (ISOC) of ItAF is a service that uses software to locate objects in space to manage space objects safely, avoid collisions and protect instruments from severe solar events. Their Space Weather Forecasting will follow solar flares, for example, that damage human cells and electronics in a spacecraft, therefore it is important to know when to take precautions.
- Amyloid aggregation upgrade: This continues the study of the effects of microgravity on the structural changes of protein formation, in particular Amyloid Beta, which is related to the formation of amyloid plaques in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
- Light Ion Detector Hardware: This is LIDAL (Light Ion Detector for ALTEA, Anomalous Long-Term Effects on Astronauts), an instrument that will use 2 LIDAL Detector Units (LDU) analyse real-time radiation risk for companies developing materials to shield against radiation in the future.
- Evaluation of endothelial function in personnel exposed to microgravity during orbital flight activity: A comparative study of vascular health measured before, during and after spaceflight using non-orbital flight personnel as a reference to learn more about vascular changes in preparation for long-duration spaceflight missions.
Italian experiments: 1. ISOC. 2. β-Amyloid aggregation in Alzheimer’s. 3. LIDAL. NASA, MDPI.com, 2024.
The European Space Agency (ESA) experiments were represented by Sweden’s participation.
- Orbital Architecture: This project studies the effects of architectural settings on physical and social wellbeing, measuring cognitive performance, stress levels and recovery from stress in isolated environments. Testing the crew in different sections of the space station will reveal if those environments influence their biology and psychology while they work.
- Crew Interactive Mobile Companion (CIMON): This is an AI guided robot that is free flying on the station that can help the crew with tasks, e.g. help Marcus do a physical science investigation.
- The Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air-2 (ANITA-2): The analysis of air samples from ISS in search of contaminants. This experiment uses infrared light to detect traces of 33 gases; unknown substances can be brought back to Earth for analysis.
- Multi-Avatar and Robots Collaborating with Intuitive Interface (Surface Avatar): A project to develop robots for space exploration and building on extra-terrestrial environments and for communications as data relays. This knowledge can also be used for arctic exploration, search and rescue and submarine applications.
ESA/Sweden’s experiments: 1. Orbital architecture. 2. CIMON. 3. ANITA-2. NASA, ESA, 2024.
The Turkish experiments were led by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK) and Turkish Space Agency (TUA).
- Vokalkord: An easy-to-use telemedicine application that analyses the sound produced in the respiratory system, including breathing, speaking and coughing for the detection of disease using artificial intelligence trained on 71 diseases. The application can be loaded on a smart phone The goal is to help with the diagnosis of respiratory, infectious, cardiovascular and other diseases for telemedicine, which would be applicable in space missions and space tourism.
- Innovative Research on Novel Space Alloys (UYNA): In partnership with the Japanese Space Agency (JACSA), TUA used JACSA’s electromagnetic levitating facility to melt and re-solidify metal alloys while they float in space. This metallurgic experiment focused on Medium Entropy Alloys (MEA) and High Entropy Alloys (HEA), to understand how their molecular structure changes to give them high strength, toughness and corrosion resistance. that will have applications in space, aviation, automotive and energy industries, and medicine.
- Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR-Gem): An agricultural experiment on extremophytes modifying the structure of plant genes that will help understand plant adaptation to extreme environments for the creation of more resilient crops.
- UzMan: Microalgal life support systems for space missions. Investigates the use of algae as a nutritional source for long duration flights. Algae convert carbon dioxide into oxygen for spacecraft environment; help regulate temperature, recycle certain waste and maybe used as fuel and fertiliser for agriculture.
Türkiye experiments: 1. CRISPR-Gem exremophytes . 2. UzMan microalgae. 3. Vokalkord software. NASA, ESA, 2024.
Other Axiom Space scientific partners lead health-related experiments.
- Cosmic Brain Organoids project from the National Stem Cell Foundation (NSCF): An experiment that will use organoids derived from stem cells of patients with neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s and Primary progressive multiple sclerosis) and study how they are affected by microgravity.
- Cancer in LEO project from the Sanford Stem Cell Institute (SSCI): A study of tumour organoids in microgravity to identify early signs of cancer to prevent disease. This is part of the Space Stem Cell Orbital Research (ISSCOR) project with collaboration of SSCI, JM foundation and Axiom Space to understand stem cell role in cancer, ageing and exposure to space.
- Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) Essential Measures: This project started in Ax-1 and continues to gather physiological, behavioural, and biological data of spaceflight participants to study adaptation to space. This will add to knowledge on movement disorders and the impact of isolation, confinement and stressful environments on participants.
- Bodewell Skincare Study: This study focuses on the moisturising effect of Bodewell cream on the skin of astronauts exposed to microgravity and artificially controlled environments. Results will help develop skin-care products for normal skin and skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Other experiments: 1. NSCF Brain organoids. 2. TRISH Space health. 3. Bodewell skin care. Axiom, Bodewell, 2024.
AX-3 LAUNCH
On 18 January 2024, Axiom-3 launched from Pad 39A at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on board of the Crew Dragon Freedom capsule propelled by a Space-X Falcon 9 rocket. Their destination was the International Space Station (ISS).
Launch sequence:
- Lift off (0sec): Took place after all checks were approved, propellent was loaded (liquid Oxygen and RP-1 rocket-grade Kerosene), and countdown reached 0.
- Stage 1 Throttle Down: 43seconds into the flight the Falcon 9 engines throttled down to help the ship pass through Max-Q.
- MAX Q: This is the period of Maximum Dynamic Pressure sustained by the rocket while it ascended to reaches supersonic speeds.
- Throttle up: The Merlin engines increased burning again to continue ascending to reach 3.5 minutes into the flight.
- MECO: Main Engine Cut Off, was when the 9 Merlin engines stopped firing in preparation for stage separation.
- Stage Separation: The first stage or propulsion unit separated from the top section of the rocket (second stage) and began returning to the ground.
Flight stages: Ax-3 launch onboard a Space-X Falcon 9 rocket. From lift off to stage separation. Axiom, 2024.
- Second Engine Ignition: The engine on Stage 2 called Second Engine Star-1 (SCS1), is a Merlin Vacuum Engine that ignited to propel this section into orbit.
- Stage 1 Boost-back Burn: 3 of the 9 Merlin engines ignited and shut down to propel the first stage away from the ascending route towards Cape Canaveral, Florida.
- Stage 1 Entry Burn: This burn slowed the first stage down to prepare for re-entry into the atmosphere. Descent was steered by grid fins located close to the bottom of Stage 1.
- Stage 1 Landing Burn: This burn rapidly slowed down Stage 1 to perform a soft landing on the landing pad. This happened 90 seconds after the delivery of Stege 2 into orbit and 8 minutes into the mission.
- Orbital Insertion: The second stage continued to ascend into orbit and cut off its engine.
- Dragon Separation: 3 minutes after reaching orbit, the Dragon Freedom Capsule separated from Stage 2 and checked its Graco manoeuvring thrusters.
- Nosecone deployment: 12 minutes into the flight, the capsule’s nose-cone was deployed to expose the mechanism that allowed it to dock into the ISS.
Flight stages: Ax-3 launch onboard a Space-X Falcon 9 rocket. From second engine ignition to nosecone deployment. Axiom, 2024.
The event was broadcast via ISS live at (links open in new tab/window):
axiomspace.com, spacex.com/launches, x.com/@SpaceX, NASA Television, and the NASA app.
AX-3 DOCKING INTO ISS
It took around 12 minutes to ascend to lower orbit and enter space by crossing the boundary area known as the Kármán Line at an altitude of 100km above sea level.
The Dragon capsule and the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket continued in orbit slowly gaining altitude and speed to catch up with the ISS at an altitude of around 420km.
There were 5 major burns of the Draco Thrusters on Dragon while in orbit during this approach:
- Following insertion into orbit Dragon Freedom performed an initial Phase Burn to gain altitude and reach 400km above sea level, which placed it at 20 km from ISS.
- A Boost Burn advanced the spacecraft to 10km from the ISS, and a Close Co-elliptical Burn provided it with more speed to keep the Dragon below the ISS.
- 8 hours later, the Transfer Burn raised the Dragon to 2.5km from the ISS, yet still around 60km behind it, the Final Co-elliptical Burn helped the spacecraft get even closer.
- Approach initiated when Dragon was 7km behind the ISS, moving the capsule through 2 checkpoints. The first one, when entering the Approach Ellipsoid (AE) zone, which is a 3-dimensional ellipsoid that measures 4x2x2km. This is a “24hr safe trajectory area”, which means if Dragon lost all control of its thrusters, it would take at least 24hr before reaching the innermost boundary of the AE.
- After receiving permission to continue, Dragon arrived at Waypoint 0, 400km from the ISS, for another check of all functions before being authorised to approach the Keep out sphere, which is a 200 m radius area around the station. This is a “6hr safe trajectory zone”.
- Waypoint 1 was at 220m from ISS and directly in front of the docking point or Docking Axis position. This mission headed to the Node 2 Forward Port which has an International Docking Adaptor (IDA).
- Waypoint 2 was 20m away from ISS, and it was where Dragon focused on aligning with the docking adaptor.
- After final checks at that point, the call out Crew Hands Off Point (CHOP) indicated that there were 30 seconds before docking and all manoeuvres were controlled autonomously by Dragon.
- The initial contact of Dragon to the IDA is known as Soft Capture. The adaptor pulled the capsule closer until 12 hooks drove into place, securing the capsule to the ISS, a crucial step known as Hard Capture.
- NASA astronauts Loral O'Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli manually pressurised the vestibule area in between Dragon’s hatch and the ISS’ hatch. Meanwhile, umbilical cables provided power, data and audio for communications with Dragon.
- Less than 2 hours later, the hatches were opened to allow access to the ISS.
In this manner, after a 36-hour journey, the Dragon capsule matched the speed of the ISS (28,000 km/h) and docked into the Harmony module of the ISS on 20 January 2024.
Orbital journey diagram showing the 5 major burns that propelled the Dragon Capsule to approach and successful dock into ISS. 20 January 2024. Axiom, 2024.
SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully docked into the ISS Harmony module on 20 January 2024 (Left: model. Right: actual photo). Axiom, 2024.
AX-3 WELCOME TO ISS
Axiom-3 crew salute viewers after the welcome ceremony at their arrival to ISS. Station crew on the background. 20 January 2024. Axiom, 2024.
On 20 January 2024 the Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew that arrived on board Dragon Freedom were welcomed into the ISS by the residing Crew 7 Dragon spacecraft or Dragon Endurance (docked on 27 Aug 2023 for a 6-month stay).
Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria formally presented the Astronaut Pins to his crewmates Col. Walter Villadei (astronaut 609), Alper Gezeravci (610) and MarcusWandt (611).
Commander Lopez-Alegria awards new astronauts with their pins: Walter Villadei (609), Alper Gezeravci (610) and MarcusWandt (611). 20 January 2024. Axiom, 2024.
AX-3 WORKING AT ISS
During their time at the ISS, the Ax-3 crew took part of more than 30 experiments that occupied them fully. Their daily activities were logged on Axiom’s website starting on 20 January 2024 (opens in a new tab/window).
The Axiom-3 crew training at Axiom and finally living and working at ISS. 18 January to 09 February 2024. Axiom, 2024.
REFERENCES
» Axiom Space (2024) Ax-3 mission update flight day #16. 02 February 2024 [Online article]. Available at axiomspace.com. Accessed: 02 February 2024.
» Axiom Space (2024) Ax-3 mission to enable important technological advancements for Türkiye. [Online article]. Available at axiomspace.com. Accessed: 8 February 2024.
» Axiom Space (2023) Ax-3 mission to prioritize government-sponsored research in low-Earth orbit. [Online article]. Available at axiomspace.com. Accessed: 18 January 2024.
» Axiom Space (2024) Axiom Space News. [Online article]. Available at axiomspace.com. Accessed: 18 January 2024.
» Axiom Space (2023) Axiom Space releases Ax-3 Mission Patch. [Online article]. Available at axiomspace.com. Accessed: 18 January 2024.
» Axiom Space (2024) Axiom Station. [Online article]. Available at axiomspace.com. Accessed: 18 January 2024.
» Barilla (2023) Barilla pasta lands on astronauts’ menus. Barilla, 14 Dec. 2023. [Online article]. Available at barillagroup.com. Accessed: 06 March 2024.
» Collect Space (2024) GiGi, Axiom's spacesuit-clad Build-A-Bear, returning to orbit on Ax-3. [Online article]. Available at axiomspace.com. Accessed: 18 January 2024.
» Evans B (2024) Ax-3 crew primed for science, technology, educational outreach mission. America Space, 17 January 2024. [Online article]. Available at americaspace.com. Accessed: 18 January 2024.
» Evans B (2023) Falcon Heavy launches USSF-67, Readies for Busy 2023. America Space, 17 January 2024. [Online article]. Available at americaspace.com. Accessed: 18 January 2024.
» NASA (2024) Axiom Mission 3 launches to the International Space Station (Official NASA Broadcast), 18 January 2024. [Online video]. Available at YouTube. Accessed: 18 Jan. 2024.
» Romoli G (2023) LIDAL, a time-of-flight radiation detector for the International Space Station: Description and ground calibration. sensors 2023, 23(7), 3559; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23073559. [Journal article] Available at www.mdpi.com. Accessed: 07 February 2024.
» Wikipedia (2024) Axiom Mission 3. [Online article]. Available at wikipedia.org. Accessed: 18 Jan. 2024.
» Wikipedia (2024) Axiom Space. [Online article]. Available at wikipedia.org. Accessed: 18 Jan. 2024.
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