Author Topic: SpaceX F9/Crew Dragon : Axiom-3 : KSC LC-39A : 18 January 2024 (21:49 UTC)  (Read 171821 times)

Offline hektor

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Discussion thread for AX-3 mission.

Launch 18 January 2024, at 21:49:11 UTC (4:49 pm EST), on SpaceX Falcon 9 booster 1080.5, in Crew Dragon (C212.3 Freedom), from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center.  First stage successfully landed at LZ-1.  Destination is the International Space Station.

Crew
Commander: Michael López-Alegría
Alper Gezeravci
Walter Villadei
Marcus Wandt



The mission should have a Turkish crew member. So no Tom Cruise on that one either…

Turkey signs deal with U.S.' Axiom Space to launch first Turkish astronaut in 2023

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1630221114600488962?s=20
« Last Edit: 08/18/2024 09:45 pm by zubenelgenubi »

Online ddspaceman

https://twitter.com/AlteredJamie/status/1635741282055192586


NASA and Axiom Space have signed a mission order for the third private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, targeted to launch no earlier than November 2023 from the agency’s NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

“The diversity of currently available commercial orbital human spaceflight opportunities is truly astounding. NASA’s commercial crew flights to the space station for our government astronauts paved the way for fully private missions to space like Inspiration4 and Polaris as well as private astronaut missions to the orbiting laboratory like the one we are announcing today,” said Phil McAlister, director of commercial space at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “We are starting to see the incorporation of space into our economic sphere, and it is going to revolutionize the way people see, use, and experience space.”   

Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) is expected to spend 14 days docked to the space station. A specific launch date is dependent on spacecraft traffic to the space station and in-orbit activity planning and constraints. NASA and Axiom Space 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.

“Axiom Space’s selection to lead the next private astronaut mission to the International Space Station enables us to continue expanding access to nations, academia, commercial entities, and emerging industries to research, test, and demonstrate new technologies in microgravity,” said Michael Suffredini, CEO and president of Axiom Space. “As NASA’s focus shifts back to the Moon and on to Mars, we are committed to transforming low-Earth orbit into a global space marketplace, where access to space moves beyond the partners of the space station to nations, institutions and individuals with new ideas fueling a thriving human economy beyond Earth.”

Axiom Space will submit four proposed crew members and two back up crew for the Ax-3 mission to the station’s Multilateral Crew Operations Panel for review. NASA is requiring all private astronaut mission providers to select a previously flown NASA astronaut as the spacecraft commander. Following review and approval from NASA and its international partners, the prime crew members for the mission will be named.

The Ax-3 crew members will train for their flight with NASA, international partners, and SpaceX, which Axiom Space has contracted as launch provider for transportation to and from the space station and to familiarize the private astronauts with systems, procedures, and emergency preparedness for the space station and the Dragon spacecraft. Based on current mission planning, team crew training is scheduled to begin this spring.

Axiom Space is obtaining NASA services to conduct the mission via both the mission specific order and Reimbursable Space Act Agreements.

Through the mission specific order, Axiom Space is obtaining services from NASA such as crew supplies, cargo delivery to space, storage, and other in-orbit resources for daily use. The order also accommodates up to an additional contingency week aboard the space station. This mission is subject to NASA’s pricing policy for the services the agency is providing to Axiom Space for in-orbit activities that are above space station baseline capabilities.

The order also identifies capabilities NASA may obtain from Axiom Space, including the return of scientific samples that must be kept cold in transit to and from Earth, return cargo capability, and the capability to use the private astronaut mission commander’s time during the docked mission to complete NASA science or perform tasks for NASA.

Through Reimbursable Space Act Agreements, Axiom Space will reimburse NASA for services to enable the mission, such as training for crew members and use of facilities at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In addition, SpaceX has a Reimbursable Space Act Agreement with Kennedy for launch services.

NASA made the selection for the third private astronaut mission from proposals received in response to its September 2022 NASA Research Announcement and evaluated the mission proposals based on the provider’s ability to execute a mission successfully, NASA’s ability to support the proposed mission, and the mission’s contribution to the agency’s goal of low-Earth orbit commercialization. NASA also solicited proposals for a fourth private astronaut mission opportunity in 2024 and will announce the mission after successful completion of negotiations results in an award.

For more than 22 years, NASA has supported a continuous U.S. human presence in low-Earth orbit. The agency's goal is a low-Earth orbit marketplace where NASA is one of many customers, and the private sector leads the way. This strategy will provide services the government needs at a lower cost, enabling the agency to focus on its Artemis missions to the Moon and on to Mars while continuing to use low-Earth orbit as a training and proving ground for those deep space missions.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-axiom-space-for-third-private-astronaut-station-mission
« Last Edit: 03/14/2023 07:45 pm by ddspaceman »

Offline Ben E

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Interesting that the NASA news release explicitly states that the CDR must be a flown NASA astronaut.

I think Axiom has just Lopez-Alegria, Whitson and (possibly) Walheim on its books. Wonder if Lopez-Alegria will get the Ax-3 command, with Villadei as PLT?

Offline hektor

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So
CMR : López-Alegría
PLT : Villadei
MS1 : Turkish guy
MS2 : Turkish lady

???
« Last Edit: 03/15/2023 11:04 am by hektor »

Offline hektor

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López-Alegría and Villadei being respectively back-up commander and back-up pilot of AX-2, this seems to confirm these crew members for AX-3.

Offline hektor

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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/sarwatnasir/status/1652319071424184320

Quote
Turkey names Air Force pilot Alper Gezeravci as the country’s first astronaut. He is scheduled to fly to the ISS as part of a private mission by Axiom Space.

https://apnews.com/article/turkey-erdogan-astronaut-space-0f787aadc7e5ef660e311916c209f550

Offline hektor

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The back-up is Tuva Cihangir Atasever.

 
« Last Edit: 05/02/2023 07:29 am by hektor »

Offline hektor

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So

CMR : Michael López-Alegría
PLT : Walter Villadei
MS1 : Alper Gezeravcı
MS2 : TBD (can it be Marcus Wandt ?)

Is that the probable line-up ?
« Last Edit: 04/29/2023 05:30 pm by hektor »

Offline hektor

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https://twitter.com/AstroAlper_/status/1652296561332715520

FST edit to add:

Quote
We are ready to experience this beautiful excitement with you.

Hello! 🇹🇷
« Last Edit: 04/29/2023 08:06 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline hektor

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Re: SpaceX F9/Dragon : Axiom AX-3 Crewed Flight : November 2023
« Reply #10 on: 04/29/2023 08:32 pm »
Promotional video tweeted by the boss himself

https://twitter.com/RTErdogan/status/1652261486289473537?s=20

Google translate : We have identified one main and one backup #TurkishAstronaut who will stay on the International Space Station for 14 days.
 
I wish success to my brothers Alper Gezeravcı and Tuva Cihangir Atasever, who will be the symbol of Turkey's strength and determination and will proudly carry our flag in space. 🇹🇷
« Last Edit: 04/29/2023 08:33 pm by hektor »

Offline hektor

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Re: SpaceX F9/Dragon : Axiom AX-3 Crewed Flight : November 2023
« Reply #11 on: 05/02/2023 06:41 am »
https://twitter.com/AstroTuva/status/1653128848320372764?s=20

Google translate : We returned to Houston to continue our astronaut training. A very busy schedule awaits us. We will begin to share all these exciting processes with you as of next week. Stay tuned

« Last Edit: 05/02/2023 06:42 am by hektor »

Offline hektor

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Re: SpaceX F9/Dragon : Axiom AX-3 Crewed Flight : November 2023
« Reply #12 on: 05/04/2023 01:10 pm »
https://twitter.com/tuajans/status/1653481388073537538?s=20

ChatGPT : "The training process for Turkey's first manned space mission has begun in the United States. 🇹🇷👨‍🚀👨‍🚀 Our space travelers must have a good understanding of their bodies in case of possible pressure losses. Here, they are learning this during altitude training! 📍San Antonio/Texas"



ChatGPT : "During the astronaut selection process, we underwent a high-altitude test at the Aerospace Medicine Research and Education Center in Eskişehir. Being subjected to this test again in the US was very useful in terms of observing the similarities and differences in the procedure."

"Our training is continuing at full speed. In the coming weeks, we will be exposed to even more exciting tests. 🤓"
« Last Edit: 05/04/2023 01:17 pm by hektor »

Online ddspaceman

GT:  We're in Cape Canaveral, Florida to follow the #Ax2 launch tomorrow!

In this launch, which will be Axiom's second manned space mission, there will be 2 US and 2 Saudi astronauts. In addition, Saudi Arabia will send its first female astronaut into space! Millet on our head 👩🏻‍🚀

The launch will take place at 00:38 midnight Turkish time. We'll tell you what's going on here as much as possible!

Excitement is at its peak, I hope there is no delay 🤓

https://twitter.com/AstroTuva/status/1660047055761420288


Offline hektor

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Re: SpaceX F9/Dragon : Axiom AX-3 Crewed Flight : November 2023
« Reply #14 on: 05/22/2023 07:36 pm »
https://twitter.com/AstroAlper/status/1660634801068539904?s=20

GT : Today was a good day for us.

We were in Florida for the launch of the Axiom-2 mission. At these special moments, we also had the opportunity to chat with NASA President Bill Nelson.

Our hearts will beat together in the next mission.

Are we ready?🚀 @tuajans

https://twitter.com/AstroTuva/status/1660710812598542353?s=20

GT : We had the chance to have a short chat with NASA chief @SenBillNelson, who came to Kennedy Space Center to watch the #Ax2 launch. We would also like to thank him for his inspiring speech before the briefing!
« Last Edit: 05/22/2023 07:43 pm by hektor »

Offline hektor

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Offline hektor

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Re: SpaceX F9/Dragon : Axiom AX-3 Crewed Flight : November 2023
« Reply #16 on: 05/26/2023 08:48 am »
https://twitter.com/AstroTuva/status/1661416861299253250?s=20

ChatGPT translation : Launch memory of Ax-2..

We witnessed the flight of the Falcon 9 rocket and the first-ever landing of the booster stage. It was an amazing experience!

I'm eagerly anticipating the launch, which is expected to take place in the final quarter of 2023 and will mark the beginning of Turkey's first manned space mission. 🚀
« Last Edit: 05/26/2023 08:49 am by hektor »

Offline hektor

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Re: SpaceX F9/Dragon : Axiom AX-3 Crewed Flight : November 2023
« Reply #17 on: 05/30/2023 06:58 am »
The final daily video of Ax-2 includes an interview of MLA where they confirm he is currently training to command Ax-3.

Offline hektor

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Re: SpaceX F9/Dragon : Axiom AX-3 Crewed Flight : November 2023
« Reply #18 on: 06/02/2023 04:57 pm »
Passing the baton... This picture was taken just prior to the start of the quarantine for the AX-2 crew

https://twitter.com/AstroTuva/status/1663570822299090944?s=20
« Last Edit: 06/02/2023 04:58 pm by hektor »

Online ddspaceman

GT: We are in Turkey to receive hands-on training on the experiments we will carry out in space. We will work on a wide range of experiments from biotechnology to materials science for about 2 weeks together with very valuable scientists in our country.

https://twitter.com/AstroTuva/status/1665994224548888576


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