https://www.npr.org/2024/01/18/1225191541/spacex-nasa-axiom-space-ax-3-international-space-station-iss Accessibility links * Skip to main content * Keyboard shortcuts for audio player * Open Navigation Menu * NPR logo * * Newsletters * * NPR Shop * Close Navigation Menu * Home * News Expand/collapse submenu for News + National + World + Politics + Business + Health + Science + Climate + Race * Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture + Books + Movies + Television + Pop Culture + Food + Art & Design + Performing Arts + Life Kit + Gaming * Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music + Best Music Of 2023 + Tiny Desk + Hip-Hop 50 + All Songs Considered + Music Features + Live Sessions * Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily + [morning-ed] Morning Edition + [we_otheren] Weekend Edition Saturday + [we_otheren] Weekend Edition Sunday + [all-things] All Things Considered + [fresh-air] Fresh Air + [up-first] Up First Featured + [trumps-tri] Trump's Trials + [stateofwor] State of the World from NPR + [popculture] Pop Culture Happy Hour + [embedded_t] Embedded + More Podcasts & Shows * Search * Newsletters * * NPR Shop * NPR Music NPR Music * Best Music Of 2023 * Tiny Desk * Hip-Hop 50 * All Songs Considered * Music Features * Live Sessions * About NPR * Diversity * Organization * NPR Network * Support * Careers * Connect * Press * Ethics SpaceX launches Axiom Space's Ax-3 mission to the International Space Station The mission, Ax-3, is the third time Houston-based Axiom Space has sent paying passengers to the I.S.S. During 16 days of orbit, the all-European crew will conduct 30 experiments and public outreach. Space SpaceX launches 4 people for a private mission to the International Space Station January 18, 20245:01 PM ET Russell Lewis Russell Lewis [gettyimage] Enlarge this image A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with its Crew Dragon capsule launches from pad LC-39A during Axiom Space's Ax-3 Mission at the Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on January 18, 2024. Chandan Khanna/ AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with its Crew Dragon capsule launches from pad LC-39A during Axiom Space's Ax-3 Mission at the Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on January 18, 2024. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images The first all-European commercial crew is on its way to the International Space Station after an early evening SpaceX launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Unlike a NASA mission, this one is paid for by Axiom Space, a Houston-based company flying its third group of paying passengers to the I.S.S. It contracts with SpaceX to get to and from the orbital laboratory. Axiom plans to build its own space station in orbit one day and it's using these missions to help in its planning and designs. An attempt to launch the mission Wednesday was called off several hours before its scheduled flight. SpaceX and Axiom said they needed additional time "to complete pre-launch checkouts and data analysis, including the parachute system energy modulator." The next day SpaceX said, "all systems are looking good for today's launch" without elaborating further. The capsule will take the next 36 hours racing to catch up to the I.S.S. as it circles about 250 miles above Earth. After docking, the crew will spend two weeks on the orbital laboratory performing about 30 experiments, including "microgravity research, technology demonstrations, and outreach engagements," according to Axiom. Every space crew needs a mission patch. This company has designed NASA's for 50 years Space Every space crew needs a mission patch. This company has designed NASA's for 50 years This mission, called Ax-3, is flying a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft named Freedom. The capsule has flown in space twice previously and gone to the International Space Station each time (Crew-4 in 2022 and Ax-2 in 2023). Freedom has spent a total of 179 days in space. The Ax-3 crew is led by Axiom chief astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria (A dual U.S.-Spanish citizen and former NASA astronaut and ISS commander). He'll serve as the Ax-3 commander and is joined by three paying passengers: Pilot Walter Villadei of the Italian Air Force, and mission specialists Alper Gezeravci of Turkey and Marcus Wandt of Sweden and the European Space Agency. For Gezeravci, who is the first Turkish astronaut to go to space, "This spaceflight is not a destination but a journey. This is just the beginning of our journey - for a long growing space journey in our future." The Ax-3 crew will join seven other people currently on the I.S.S. [gettyimage] Enlarge this image Members of the Axiom Space's Ax-3 mission (from left to right), Mission Specialist Marcus Wandt of Sweden, Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravci of Turkey, Pilot Walter Villadei of Italy and Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria of Spain, arrive at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on January 18, 2024. Gregg Newtown/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Gregg Newtown/AFP via Getty Images Members of the Axiom Space's Ax-3 mission (from left to right), Mission Specialist Marcus Wandt of Sweden, Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravci of Turkey, Pilot Walter Villadei of Italy and Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria of Spain, arrive at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on January 18, 2024. Gregg Newtown/AFP via Getty Images * Ax-3 * Axiom Space * International Space Station * SpaceX * NASA * Facebook * Flipboard * Email Read & Listen * Home * News * Culture * Music * Podcasts & Shows Connect * Newsletters * Facebook * Instagram * Press * Public Editor * Corrections * Contact & Help About NPR * Overview * Diversity * NPR Network * Accessibility * Ethics * Finances Get Involved * Support Public Radio * Sponsor NPR * NPR Careers * NPR Shop * NPR Events * NPR Extra * Terms of Use * Privacy * Your Privacy Choices * Text Only * Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor