Following their return to Earth after spending nearly 22 days in space and 18 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the astronauts of Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) are set to share their unique experiences and insights during a press conference on Feb. 27, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. CT. This event will highlight the achievements of the first all-European commercial astronaut mission to the ISS.
In an historic venture, three countries — Italy, Türkiye, and Sweden through the European Space Agency (ESA) — united for Ax-3 as the first commercial spaceflight mission made up of government and ESA-sponsored national astronauts. The Ax-3 crew includes Commander Michael López-Alegría (U.S. and Spain), Pilot Walter Villadei (Italian Air Force), and Mission Specialists Alper Gezeravcı (Türkiye) and Marcus Wandt (Sweden and ESA).
During the mission, the Ax-3 crew lived and worked aboard the orbiting laboratory conducting 54 different experiments and 28 media and outreach engagements. In addition, data collected on the ground before and after the mission as well as on orbit will improve understanding of human physiology on Earth and in microgravity. This human research will help prepare for longer-duration missions off the planet.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Ax-3 crew aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the ISS from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 18 at 3:49 p.m. CT. After undocking from the ISS on Feb. 7, the Ax-3 crew safely splashed down off the coast of Florida on Feb. 9 at 7:30 a.m. CT.
AX-3 CREW RETURN PRESS CONFERENCE
Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 10:00am CT
Participants include:
Michael López-Alegría, Ax-3 Commander, Axiom Space, U.S. and Spain
Walter Villadei, Ax-3 Pilot, Italian Air Force
Alper Gezeravcı, Ax-3 Mission Specialist, Türkiye
Marcus Wandt, Ax-3 Mission Specialist, ESA/Sweden
Media must register to participate and RSVP by 12:00pm CT on Feb. 26. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the press conference.
Register here for the Ax-3 crew return press conference: https://axiomspace.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1prafxstT8WkCDk72IlREA