April 8, 2024Japanese Astronaut Koichi Wakata Joins Axiom SpaceNewsAxiom Space welcomes recently retired Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata as a newly appointed Astronaut and Chief Technical Officer for the Asia-Pacific region. Wakata, a veteran astronaut with decades of human spaceflight experience, will lead the expansion of Axiom Space's business and strategic presence in the Asia-Pacific region and contribute to the advancement of Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station. "Koichi is a recognized leader in the global space community and a true pioneer of space exploration,” said Axiom Space Chief Astronaut Michael López-Alegría. “We’re honored and excited to have him join the team as a future commander of private astronaut missions, as well as a technical expert and leader, advancing commercial space development and promoting global partnership. I believe his incredible journey will be a source of inspiration for generations to come.” Wakata contributed to the construction of the International Space Station (ISS) and the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo.” He was the first astronaut to serve as JAXA’s ISS Program Manager and Vice President for Human Space Technology. He officially retired from JAXA on March 31, 2024, finishing out his career in the space agency as senior management for the ISS and lunar exploration programs. Wakata’s astronaut career includes five missions, more than any Japanese astronaut, logging 504 days in space on four different spacecraft (Space Shuttle; Soyuz; SpaceX Crew Dragon; the ISS). His ISS space assignments include three long-duration missions, serving as the first Japanese ISS Commander, two spacewalks for a total of 14 hours and two minutes, and operations of four robotic systems. Wakata holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, a Master of Science in Applied Mechanics and a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.###
Axiom Space welcomes recently retired Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata as a newly appointed Astronaut and Chief Technical Officer for the Asia-Pacific region. (Imagery courtesy of JAXA)
A prototype of this suit, known as the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), was revealed in March. Like any other space technology, the prototype has to be evaluated and undergo continued alterations before the critical review phase begins in June.
(...) the company is partnering with Astrolab and Odyssey Space Research on the FLEX lunar rover project, one of three private efforts that just received NASA funding for development work. One of these three private designs is expected to become the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV), which Artemis astronauts will use to drive around on the moon.
The Axiom Station is coming to life! We're on track to launch HAB1 in 2026.
Axiom Station’s ‘Habitat One’ module has taken another major step towards completion at the @Thales_Alenia_S production facility in Turin, Italy. Take a look at the module bulkhead and forward cone coming together as Axiom Space expands global access to low Earth orbit.
Refresh my memory because I can't find it. Which launch vehicle is planned to launch Hab-1 in 2026? And will it launch inside a fairing? At 4.2m diameter, I assume a 5m fairing will be used.
Later this year, Axiom Space is set to launch a prototype of the Axiom Data Center Unit (AxDCU) to the International Space Station (ISS). This prototype will be instrumental in laying the foundation for a future orbital data center infrastructure for Axiom Station. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3VlXPbV.
Aspiotis says “Axiom Space is developing scalable orbital data center infrastructure to primarily support [the] growing population of satellites and spacecraft in Earth’s orbit with in-space cloud computing and data storage; artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML); and cybersecurity. The orbital data center infrastructure will also support Axiom Station operations, crew, research payloads, and in-space manufacturing.”Data centers co-located near those orbital facilities makes sense, according to Aspiotis. “The value proposition of orbital data centers is centered on four pillars,” he said. “Latency for applications where every millisecond counts; mitigating data bottlenecks between space and Earth, especially for new generations of high data volume sensors; increasing the resiliency of emerging mesh networks in space; and increasing the cybersecurity of space infrastructure.”
And the rockets’ (blue) glare! Axiom Space’s Propulsion Team conducted a Thruster Vacuum Test – over 600 starts on the thruster with the longest continuous burn time at 3 minutes. This test validates design, function, and performance. Vacuum testing is important because it simulates the space environment the thruster will ultimately operate in.
Mario Billiani @_starbase_Interestingly the methane propellant for these thrusters will be produced by astronauts' exhale: "Studies show that with a crew of about six we can produce enough methane to meet all of our propellant needs."https://www.ansys.com/blog/axiom-space-is-using-ansys-simulationshttps://twitter.com/_starbase_/status/1808887974072840656
Hab-1 reaches CDR! During Critical Design Review, Axiom Space updates NASA on its module design, soliciting Agency feedback & moving Axiom Station one step closer to LEO.
