Axiom Space held a virtual pre-launch press conference on Jan. 16, one day ahead of the Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) launch. Participants included leaders from Axiom Space, NASA, SpaceX, and the U.S. Space Force.
The Ax-3 mission is targeted to launch on Jan. 17, 2024, at 5:11 p.m. ET. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Ax-3 crew aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Once docked, the Axiom Space astronauts plan to spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory implementing a full mission comprised of microgravity research, technology demonstrations, and outreach engagements.
Ax-3 will be the first all-European commercial astronaut mission to the ISS, including crewmembers Commander Michael López-Alegría of the U.S. and Spain, Pilot Walter Villadei of the Italian Air Force, and Mission Specialists Alper Gezeravcı of Türkiye and Marcus Wandt of Sweden and the European Space Agency.
Participants included:
Derek Hassmann, Chief of Mission Integration and Operations, Axiom Space
Dana Weigel, Deputy Manager, International Space Station Program, NASA
Benji Reed, Senior Director of Human Spaceflight Programs, SpaceX
Brian Cizek, Launch Weather Officer, 45th Weather Squadron, U.S. Space Force
Listen to the press conference here.
Tomorrow starting at 3:15 p.m. ET, the launch webcast will follow the journey of the four-person, all-European Ax-3 crew as they prepare to liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s KSC in Florida at 5:11 p.m. ET. The webcast will continue until roughly 20 minutes after launch with stunning views of the spacecraft traveling to the ISS. Watch live at axiomspace.com.
Follow along for mission updates with #Ax3 on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook, and on our website.