Wasn't Axion near bankruptcy 2 years ago?
Forbes reports that Axiom Space, which was founded by billionaire Kam Ghaffarian and NASA executive Mike Suffredini in 2016, has been struggling to raise money to keep its doors open and has had difficulties meeting its payroll dating back to at least early 2023. In addition, the Houston-based company has fallen behind on payments to key suppliers, including Thales Alenia Space for its space station and SpaceX for crewed launches.[...]The report also notes that Axiom has lost significant amounts of funding on three private astronaut missions it has flown to the International Space Station to date. Ghaffarian said these missions were conducted at a loss to build relationships with global space agencies. This does make some sense, as space agencies in Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere are likely to be customers of commercial space stations in the next decade. However, Axiom is ill-positioned to absorb such launches financially.The publication reveals that Axiom is due to pay $670 million to SpaceX for four Crew Dragon missions, each of which includes a launch and ride for four astronauts to and from the station encompassing a one- to two-week period. This equates to $167.5 million per launch, or $41.9 million per seat.
Quote from: jstrotha0975 on 10/18/2025 05:58 pmWasn't Axion near bankruptcy 2 years ago?A key NASA commercial partner faces severe financial challenges [Sep 17, 2024]QuoteForbes reports that Axiom Space, which was founded by billionaire Kam Ghaffarian and NASA executive Mike Suffredini in 2016, has been struggling to raise money to keep its doors open and has had difficulties meeting its payroll dating back to at least early 2023. In addition, the Houston-based company has fallen behind on payments to key suppliers, including Thales Alenia Space for its space station and SpaceX for crewed launches.[...]The report also notes that Axiom has lost significant amounts of funding on three private astronaut missions it has flown to the International Space Station to date. Ghaffarian said these missions were conducted at a loss to build relationships with global space agencies. This does make some sense, as space agencies in Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere are likely to be customers of commercial space stations in the next decade. However, Axiom is ill-positioned to absorb such launches financially.The publication reveals that Axiom is due to pay $670 million to SpaceX for four Crew Dragon missions, each of which includes a launch and ride for four astronauts to and from the station encompassing a one- to two-week period. This equates to $167.5 million per launch, or $41.9 million per seat.
Functional testing of the Crew Quarter Window Shutter Assembly is underway. Axiom Station crewmembers will be able to operate the window shutters from inside their rooms to block light, heat, and protect them from the orbital debris environment.
Based on its successful past experience developing subsystems for the International Space Station, HFT has been selected by Thales Alenia Space to be responsible for the design, development, assembly and testing of the Windows Shutter subsystem, as part of the windows installed in the primary structure of the Axiom modules.Each window is equipped with a Window Shutter Assembly (WSA) that is able to completely cover the visibility area when closed and does not interfere with the window's field of view or other features on the Pressurized Module when open.Specifically, the Window Shutter Assembly (WSA), when closed, performs several functions: • prevents external light from entering the crew compartment when needed by the crew; • acts as thermal protection for the crew compartment and the plastic windows underneath; • provides shielding against micrometeorites and debris, in addition to shielding the windows themselves.The Window Shutter Assembly (WSA) must remain closed during module transport and launch, and is held in this position by special docking systems (HDRM, Hold Down and Release Mechanisms) that are released in orbit.Once the Window Shutter Assembly (WSA) is released, it will be manually operated by astronauts from inside the module.
Axiom Space and ElevationSpace Inc. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore collaborative opportunities in high-frequency re-entry and recovery services for commercial space stations.This strategic partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both companies to enhance the capabilities of orbital infrastructure, including the future Axiom Station. The collaboration will focus on technology demonstrations involving ElevationSpace’s ELS-RS payload handling and re-entry/recovery systems, which are designed to optimize operations in low-Earth orbit and beyond. The ELS-RS system once complete, will provide capabilities to store scientific data/payloads under controlled conditions and return them quickly and safely to an exact, specified location on the planet. This will enable Axiom Space to deliver important research to our customers and partners with increased speed and flexibility.
It glows in the dark. 👻 The Conical Tunnel of the Axiom Docking Adapter is undergoing a fluorescent penetration inspection to detect any cracks in the surface of the structure at Karman Space & Defense.
"What Comes Next" showcases Axiom Space's vision to transcend Earth by building era-defining space infrastructure that drives exploration and fuels a vibrant space economy for the benefit of every human everywhere.
Ready to chip away at this week! Our Axiom Station Manufacturing Team is milling out our Docking Adapters and Hatches. The hatch team is responsible for 2 types of hatches that will be used throughout Axiom Station.
Proof acceptance testing is underway for the Crew Quarter Window Glass Debris Pane. What seems like a simple screening is actually a detailed process that looks for flaws in each pane of glass by applying an envelope of loads the pane will experience through launch and while on orbit.
Axiom Space and KBR successfully completed the first uncrewed thermal vacuum test of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) Pressure Garment to evaluate the spacesuit’s thermal performance and advanced materials in extreme temperatures at the vacuum of space. The test was a critical next step in collecting data on how the spacesuit will endure the harsh environment on the lunar south pole during the Artemis III mission.“This successful test produced data to inform the AxEMU’s performance and readiness for operational use on the lunar surface,” said Russell Ralston, Axiom Space general manager of extravehicular activity. “It was important to evaluate the thermal performance of the new materials we’ve incorporated into the suit design and to see how the suit’s advanced protection will enable astronauts to work at the lunar south pole and in the Moon’s permanently shadowed regions for at least two hours.”In partnership with KBR, the test was conducted inside the thermal vacuum chamber at KBR’s Aerospace Environment Protection Laboratory (AEPL) in San Antonio, Texas. The Axiom Space EVA and KBR teams worked side by side to enable this integral test from concept to execution in less than one month.From a historical perspective, it was the first time the AxEMU, designed for the return the Moon, was tested at AEPL – the same facility where Apollo astronauts trained for their historic Moon landings. For more than 60 years, this facility has been used by the aerospace community, including during the Apollo and Space Shuttle missions, and in support of the Blue Angels and commercial spaceflight crews.[...]The uncrewed thermal vacuum test of the AxEMU was the first in a series of tests which will grow in complexity and scope as Axiom Space moves toward the spacesuit qualification phase with NASA. In preparation of the Artemis III mission, Axiom Space continues to conduct extensive testing of the next-gen spacesuit. The team has completed the first dual-suit run at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL), is completing the final integration testing in the NBL, and has achieved over 700 hours of crewed pressurized time in the spacesuit; the AxEMU is currently in the critical design phase.
Learn more about hermetic connectors from our Avionics Lab Lead, Chris Rice.
Axiom Space@Axiom_SpaceAxiom Space and @KBRincorporated successfully completed the first uncrewed thermal vacuum test of the spacesuit that will be worn when astronauts return to the moon. The test simulated the vacuum and extreme temperatures of space to evaluate the spacesuit’s thermal performance and advanced materials. #AxEMU https://axiomspace.com/release/axemu-first-uncrewed-thermal-vacuum-test
#AxiomStation progress continues with the first software integrated, propulsion thruster hot-fire demonstration. The flight software development team successfully designed and executed a program capable of controlling module propulsion thrusters, proven with multiple five-second and forty-second thruster burns. Integrated tests like this one mark a pivotal point in the station development cycle, moving from individual element creation to combined testing across teams.
As part of the Axiom Space Project Astronaut, @Emilventura_, @AstroPeggy, and @CommanderMLA traveled to Rome, Italy, for the first training activity: Space Flight Readiness. Flying a jet generates G-forces similar to spaceflight, a crucial component of astronaut training. Emiliano and Peggy both flew a T-346 with the Italian Air Force (@ItalianAirForce) to simulate the intense, dynamic conditions of spaceflight.
The PPTM, which is to be shipped shortly to Houston for final assembly and integration, is slated to be launched in early 2028, with the second module following just months later. From there, Axiom aims to swiftly begin welcoming crew, Peggy Whitson, the company’s vice president of human spaceflight, told me in an interview.“We plan to have human presence once we have that four-person crew capability,” she said, referring to the capacity of the habitat module. Plans call for the station to eventually comprise five modules and support up to eight crew members. “We will have permanent human presence in space to be able to continue and overlap with ISS, which is the most important part.”
Axiom Space@Axiom_Space·The Axiom Station software team knows how to develop a time sensitive network design, meeting the 2-fault tolerance requirements and relaying data from the ground and the flight computer to the station network, near instantly. From network switches to network experts, #TeamAxiom delivers.
