SpaceX’s Dragon Endeavor capsule was launched into the Atlantic Ocean on April 25, 2022, marking the end of Axiom Space’s Axiom Mission 1, the first all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Credit: Axiom Space
Axiom space astronauts Michael Lopez-Allegria, Larry Connor, Eitan Stibe and Mark Patty have returned safely to Earth, marking the end of the Axiom 1 (Ax-1) mission, the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying a crew of four and more than 200 pounds of science and supplies, including NASA experiments and hardware, disembarked from the space station at 9:10 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 24. About 16 hours later, the vehicle crashed down into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida.
“The success of this first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station is an important step in opening up space for space travelers and achieving NASA’s goal of allowing commercial business off the planet into low Earth orbit,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “This progress has been made possible by NASA’s work with private industry – especially the sales crew program. I am incredibly proud of the teams of NASA, SpaceX and Axiom for the safe completion of this remarkable mission. Welcome home, Ax-1! ”
Fresh chili peppers are depicted growing in the advanced space habitats of the International Space Station shortly before they were harvested late last year. Credit: NASA
The crew spent 15 days in orbit, conducting various scientific experiments and technological demonstrations. Several highlights include research into the growth of cancer cells, demonstration testing of a new air purifier for station use, and research using swarms of autonomous tiles for future space applications.
After the descent, the teams will retrieve the science aboard the Dragon spacecraft and transport it to the nearby Kennedy Space Center for further investigation. Kennedy’s proximity to the coast allows researchers to study their experiments just hours after they return to Earth, while the effects of microgravity are still largely intact.
The ship of the SpaceX Dragon Endeavor crew is depicted attached to the international space-facing Harmony module docking adapter. Endeavor transported four Axiom 1 astronauts, Commander Michael Lopez-Allegria, pilot Larry Connor and mission specialists Eitan Stibe and Mark Patty, to the International Space Station for what turned out to be 15 days of research, education and trade. Credit: NASA
NASA has partnered with commercial companies to create a stable economy in low Earth orbit – one in which government and private astronauts live and work aboard the space station and future commercial habitats. NASA recently selected Axiom Space to negotiate an astronaut’s second private mission in the orbital laboratory and plans to announce a third flight later this year.
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