Elain Brown Science 09.01.2022 03:Sep AM EDT

NASA Partners with Axiom Space for a Second Commercial ISS Mission

NASA and Axiom Space signed a new deal to transport the second space tourism mission, Ax-2, to the ISS.

NASA has been eyeing Axiom Space for this second private astronaut mission in December 2021 and has previously stated that they are in negotiations about it. Today, NASA and Axiom inked that deal.

This second flight, called Ax-2, is set to launch to space in the second quarter of 2023. The flight will launch in Florida at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

The space agency makes it possible for more people to go into space and also has the aim of assisting the industry in learning and developing the skills necessary to further increase the number of private missions.

NASA Partners With Axiom Space

NASA and Axiom's Ax-2 crew are scheduled to spend 10 days in the orbiting laboratory. NASA and Axiom mission planners will coordinate in-orbit activities for the private astronauts to conduct in coordination with space station crew members and flight controllers on the ground.

NASA looks forward to this mission as part of its efforts to promote space tourism. NASA aims to continuously work with commercial space companies and grow the economy in low-Earth orbit.

The Ax-2 flight is the second commercial space flight of the company and builds on the success of its previous Ax-1 mission.

Despite being fairly new to transporting crewed missions to the ISS, it has proven the team's ability to deliver a safe flight by launching it to space and returning to Earth.

According to NASA, Axiom's chief of Mission Integration and Operations, Derek Hassmann, stated, "Our new Ax-2 crew, together with a full mission manifest of science, outreach, and commercial activities, will continue to increase utilization of the International Space Station National Laboratory and demonstrate to the world the benefits of commercial space missions for all humanity."

NASA and Ax-2 Flight

NASA and Axiom Space's second private flight is subject to the updated pricing policy for private astronaut missions.

According to SpaceNews, Standards for commercial space flights have recently undergone revisions. One of the changes includes having an experienced astronaut from NASA on board with these flights.

Having a former NASA astronaut on hand to offer expert counsel to private astronauts as they prepare for pre-flight decreases the amount of risk that is carried through to the completion of the mission.

The lessons learned during the Ax-1 flight were the inspiration for the modifications. Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut, is rumored to be the one who will join the voyage of Ax-2.

To prepare for the flight, crew members aboard Ax-2 will train with Axiom Space, SpaceX, and NASA in preparation for their mission.

Training for the team's crew is supposed to get started sometime during the fall. It is anticipated that the private astronauts will receive training regarding the emergency preparedness, procedures, and systems in the ISS and the Dragon spacecraft.

Axiom is currently in the process of acquiring from NASA services such as storage, crew supplies, cargo delivery to space, and other in-orbit resources for day-to-day use by way of the mission specific order.

The flight to the ISS also includes additional materials and needs for a contingency week aboard the laboratory.

In addition, the return of scientific samples from the ISS laboratory that must be preserved in freezing temperatures will be a part of the voyage back to Earth.