SpaceX F9/Dragon : Axiom AX-1 Crewed Flight : 8 April 2022 (15:17 UTC)

[Alexphysics]

I expect Inspiration 4 style. And SpaceX-only coverage. The fact that it docks at ISS and the crew also trained with NASA for that doesn't change that this is a non-NASA launch.

NASA streamed the launch of the Russian film crew tho...

I hesitate to read NASA's mind, but that flight also carried a Russian cosmonaut/ISS crew member and so may not be a good indicator. Perhaps Axiom's launch and landing won't be covered (SpaceX will do just fine, there), but docking and undocking will, since it involves ISS facilities and crew.

I'm guessing (and it's JUST a guess), that SpaceX will use their own facilities for suit-up. Pre-launch quarantine is a question, though. NASA has a stake in that.

They must be having some interesting discussions!

During Inspiration 4 mission preflight livestream they said they will use vab only for nasa missions and hangar x and Falcon support building for private missions. Private mission includes axiom-1 so thereby they will use their own facilities

For what it's worth, the crew missions with NASA don't use the VAB, they use the O&C building to the south

[Oersted]

Astronaut Michael L-A says that for the Ax-1 launch they will use "a new vehicle", I guess he means a new Crew Dragon, no?
https://twitter.com/CommanderMLA/status/1478748003183775744

I think he meant to say: new vehicle *for me*.
He never flew Crew Dragon, that's my interpretation.

He's tweeting with a very restrictive character limit. I don't think we need to call out people for not dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's in a tweet. When he also talks about new suits and new water landings it is abundantly clear that he means what is new to him.

[Chinakpradhan]

I expect Inspiration 4 style. And SpaceX-only coverage. The fact that it docks at ISS and the crew also trained with NASA for that doesn't change that this is a non-NASA launch.

NASA streamed the launch of the Russian film crew tho...

I hesitate to read NASA's mind, but that flight also carried a Russian cosmonaut/ISS crew member and so may not be a good indicator. Perhaps Axiom's launch and landing won't be covered (SpaceX will do just fine, there), but docking and undocking will, since it involves ISS facilities and crew.

I'm guessing (and it's JUST a guess), that SpaceX will use their own facilities for suit-up. Pre-launch quarantine is a question, though. NASA has a stake in that.

They must be having some interesting discussions!

During Inspiration 4 mission preflight livestream they said they will use vab only for nasa missions and hangar x and Falcon support building for private missions. Private mission includes axiom-1 so thereby they will use their own facilities

For what it's worth, the crew missions with NASA don't use the VAB, they use the O&C building to the south

Of sorry I meant O&C building only

[lenny97]

Astronaut Michael L-A says that for the Ax-1 launch they will use "a new vehicle", I guess he means a new Crew Dragon, no?
https://twitter.com/CommanderMLA/status/1478748003183775744

I think he meant to say: new vehicle *for me*.
He never flew Crew Dragon, that's my interpretation.

He's tweeting with a very restrictive character limit. I don't think we need to call out people for not dotting all the i's and crossing all the t's in a tweet. When he also talks about new suits and new water landings it is abundantly clear that he means what is new to him.

That's what i said.


Someone asked if was a "new Crew Dragon" and i replied to specify that it is not, and Michael L-A was only talking about his previous experiences.

[eeergo]

Noting a 1-month slip:

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1483459905499676677

[Conexion Espacial]

https://twitter.com/CommanderMLA/status/1483445737992200193

[hektor]

Noting a 1-month slip:

 

So there will be two Crew Dragon launches a couple of weeks apart ?

[Vultur]

Is the reason for the slip known?

[Conexion Espacial]

Is the reason for the slip known?

Axiom Mission 1, the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, is now targeting to launch March 31 to account for additional spacecraft preparations and space station traffic. Once aboard the orbiting laboratory, the four-person Axiom Space crew will conduct science, outreach, and commercial activities for eight days before their return to Earth.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2022/01/18/crew-gets-ready-for-spacewalk-and-dragon-departure-this-week/

[Vultur]

Is the reason for the slip known?

Axiom Mission 1, the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, is now targeting to launch March 31 to account for additional spacecraft preparations and space station traffic. Once aboard the orbiting laboratory, the four-person Axiom Space crew will conduct science, outreach, and commercial activities for eight days before their return to Earth.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2022/01/18/crew-gets-ready-for-spacewalk-and-dragon-departure-this-week/

I guess "additional spacecraft preparations" would mean the Dragon isn't quite ready, but what's the part about "traffic"? Isn't the ISS visiting vehicle schedule known well in advance?

[cpushack]

Is the reason for the slip known?

Axiom Mission 1, the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, is now targeting to launch March 31 to account for additional spacecraft preparations and space station traffic. Once aboard the orbiting laboratory, the four-person Axiom Space crew will conduct science, outreach, and commercial activities for eight days before their return to Earth.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2022/01/18/crew-gets-ready-for-spacewalk-and-dragon-departure-this-week/

I guess "additional spacecraft preparations" would mean the Dragon isn't quite ready, but what's the part about "traffic"? Isn't the ISS visiting vehicle schedule known well in advance?

It is, so what usually happens is if say you have a few day or week slip in Dragon, that pushes it out of its slot for the ISS, and you have to wait till the next one is available.  Thus a week delay can turn into a month just because thats now the next opening on the ISS schedule.

[ddspaceman]

https://twitter.com/Booster_Buddies/status/1485087467241979906

[Chinakpradhan]

Is the reason for the slip known?

Axiom Mission 1, the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, is now targeting to launch March 31 to account for additional spacecraft preparations and space station traffic. Once aboard the orbiting laboratory, the four-person Axiom Space crew will conduct science, outreach, and commercial activities for eight days before their return to Earth.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2022/01/18/crew-gets-ready-for-spacewalk-and-dragon-departure-this-week/

I guess "additional spacecraft preparations" would mean the Dragon isn't quite ready, but what's the part about "traffic"? Isn't the ISS visiting vehicle schedule known well in advance?

As per ida/pma schedule ida 3/pma 3 is now free after crs 24 so I guess no traffic at all for a 8 day mission

[scr00chy]

I guess this is what caused the delay from late February. SpaceX needed more time to refurbish Endeavour, wich returned from space 2 months after Resilience.

Maybe Resilience needs additional refurb time due to the toilet issue on Inspiration4?

https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1488908696575004672

NASA says Axiom’s first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station is now scheduled for March 30, and will use SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft — apparently a change from an earlier assignment to Crew Dragon Resilience

[spacevalley27]

NASA press release with updated launch date and Crew Dragon Endeavour confirmation: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-space-station-partners-approve-first-axiom-mission-astronauts

NASA and its international partners approved crew members for Axiom Space’s first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. The flight, called Axiom Mission 1 or Ax-1, is targeted to launch Wednesday, March 30, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a flight-proven SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The Ax-1 crew will fly on Crew Dragon Endeavour to and from the space station. After 10 days in orbit, the Ax-1 crew will splash down off the coast of Florida.

[Rondaz]

.@NASA and its international partners have approved @Axiom_Space’s first private astronaut crew, targeted to launch Mar. 30.

https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1488912970176466948

[zubenelgenubi]

Update February 7:

https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/
Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) is scheduled for March 30th at 18:45 UTC.

[Conexion Espacial]

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1496524357996367875

[Conexion Espacial]

NASA, Axiom to Discuss First Private Astronaut Space Station Mission

NASA experts will join a virtual news conference hosted by Axiom Space to preview the launch of Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1), the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. The briefing will take place at 11 a.m. EST Monday, Feb. 28.


The virtual press conference will be available on Axiom Space’s YouTube channel at:


https://www.youtube.com/axiomspace


The Ax-1 launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft is targeted for 2:46 p.m. EDT Wednesday, March 30, at from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.


During the 10-day mission, which includes eight days aboard the space station, the four-person multi-national crew will complete more than 25 research experiments developed for microgravity in collaboration with health and science organizations across the globe.


Briefing participants are:


Kathy Lueders, associate administrator, Space Operations, NASA
Robyn Gatens, director, International Space Station, NASA
Phil McAllister, director, Commercial Spaceflight, NASA
Michael Suffredini, president and chief executive officer, Axiom
Michael López-Alegría, Ax-1 crew commander, Axiom
Christian Maender, director, In-Space Research and Manufacturing, Axiom
Benjamin Reed, senior director, Human Spaceflight Programs, SpaceX
To participate, media must contact: [email protected] by 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, to receive call-in details.


Axiom Space astronauts Michael López-Alegría, Larry Connor, Mark Pathy, and Eytan Stibbe, are prime crew members of the Ax-1 mission. López-Alegría, who was born in Spain, raised in California, and is a former NASA astronaut, will serve as the mission commander. Connor, of Dayton, Ohio, will serve as pilot. Pathy, from Canada, and Stibbe, from Israel, will serve as mission specialists.


NASA continues to make rapid progress in its efforts to build a robust low-Earth orbit economy. The agency recently announced its selection of Axiom Space to begin negotiations for the second private astronaut mission. NASA also recently announced its selection of companies to develop designs of space stations and other commercial destinations in low-Earth orbit.


Prior to these new awards, NASA selected Axiom Space in January 2020 to design and develop commercial modules to attach to the station. Axiom recently completed the preliminary design review of two modules as well as the critical design review of the modules’ primary structure with NASA participation. Flight hardware for the first Axiom module is currently undergoing fabrication.

[Conexion Espacial]