For the third time, Axiom Space is preparing a charter flight to the International Space Station. The Ax-3 mission carries the distinction of containing an all-European crew, with Commander Michael López-Alegría being a dual citizen of both the United States and Spain.

The crew discussed their forthcoming mission during their extended quarantine in Florida, which has been in effect for a little over a week, after the Flight Readiness Review on Wednesday. It is scheduled for Wednesday, January 17, at 5:11 p.m. EST (2211 UTC) for their ISS launch.

“I’m very proud to being leading this mission to the International Space Station. It’s important not just for the scientific research and technology demonstrations and outreach events we will do, but it’s a very important step towards Axiom Space having a commercial space station in orbit before the decade is out,” said López-Alegría.

For the second time, the Ax-3 mission commander will be visiting the station in the capacity of both a private astronaut and a mission commander. He was a crew member on three Space Shuttle missions and Soyuz TMA-9 Expedition 14 before.

This will be Walter Villadei’s second journey on an American spacecraft. Villadei is a colonel in the Italian Air Force and the head of the ItAF’s U.S. office managing commercial spaceflight. He has previously been a pilot on Virgin Galactic’s suborbital Unity 23 flight.

Villadei will be the second non-citizen of the United States to pilot a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after Crew-7, which was launched with astronaut and current ISS commander Andreas Mogensen from the European Space Agency in the pilot’s seat.

He noted that being able to study alongside John Shoffner, who he also covered as his backup pilot on the Ax-2 mission last year, was priceless.

“He gave me some tips, especially to try to be focused on the screens and enjoy the flight. He’s been very, very professional. His flight was very smooth,” Villadei said. “It’s been a great privilege to be in training with him. So, I look forward to being as good a pilot as he was for Ax-2.”

Alper Gezeravcı, a mission specialist on the voyage, will make space history as the first Turkish astronaut. He mentioned that the operation is taking place during Turkey’s centenary celebrations.

“As the children of this nation, we have always been blocked with the limit of the sky that we could see with our bare eyes and now, this mission is opening that curtain all the way to the end and our path, our journey starting from this moment on,” Gezeravcı said. “This is the beginning of our next centennial future history that we will be really proud of.”

Over the course of their 14-day stay aboard the space station, they will conduct over 30 scientific experiments and over 50 outreach programs.
Marcus Wandt, an astronaut who works for both the European Space Agency (ESA) and Sweden, mentioned that some of the work he is most excited about involves stem cell investigations.

“We’re looking at how the stem cells are affected and their proliferation and how they’re diversified after and that effect after being in microgravity,” Wandt said. It’s been tried with sounding rockets in Sweden before and now we’re getting a longer exposure during this mission on the stem cells.”

Apart from their profession, the astronauts are also carrying certain personal belongings that has value for both themselves and the nations they represent. A Nobel Prize medal is one of Wandt’s possessions, he said.

“It shows the significance of innovation and dedication to science and knowledge progress. That’s an important part for me and that’s something I’m bringing,” Wandt said.

What remains prior to launch

The historic Launch Complex 39 will host a static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket on Monday of next week. The crew will practice the launch day procedures earlier that day during what is known as a dry dress rehearsal.

A pre-launch teleconference is tentatively scheduled for 8 p.m. EST (0100 UTC), following the Launch Readiness Review, which will bring together leadership from Axiom Space, SpaceX, and NASA.

As he approaches his sixth launch and considers his nearly 30-year spaceflight career, Lopez-Alegría stated that he still considers it a luxury to be able to travel into space, adding that the experience “never gets old.” He and fellow former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson will be in charge of these private astronaut trips to the International Space Station for the foreseeable future.

“I think I have more appreciation with every launch that approaches. I think you put some of these things in the rear-view mirror and it helps you put them in perspective,” López-Alegría said. “The first time you go, you’re just sort of hanging on for dear life and enjoying the ride, but I think you appreciate each one a little bit more, especially when you realize just how rare an opportunity is.”

“So, I’m happy to keep doing this. Axiom would definitely like to continue doing private astronaut missions. We’ll probably have other commanders in the future, but as long as they ask me to fly, my hand will be raised.”

Topics #European flight #ISS #NASA