Exclusive sneak-peak at Axiom Station
(PARIS) - Axiom Space today debuted an innovative session at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Paris providing a virtual tour of Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station. Making use of Axiom’s industrial and design and engineering models, Axiom leaders used virtual reality technology to guide the audience through an interactive video of Axiom’s in-production space station.
Outfitted with headsets and projecting their field of vision onto a large screen for the audience, Axiom leaders Chief Technology Officer Matt Ondler, Executive Vice President of In-Space Manufacturing Christian Maender, and Chief Astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, demonstrated design features of the company’s commercial space station. The first module of Axiom station is currently planned for launch in the mid-2020’s to attach to the ISS.
In collaboration with her colleagues, the session was created by Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar, Chief of Government and External Affairs, who welcomed the audience and worked with the team to answer questions. Axiom’s industrial and VR designers Kelsey Kim and Corey Smith were on hand and highlighted Axioms’ innovative methods of design and development.
The exclusive special sneak peek included Ondler’s overview of the construction and development of Axiom Station. Maender provided a tour of Axiom's research and manufacturing module and previewed the unique scientific and manufacturing capabilities of the commercial space station. Lopez-Alegria took the audience on a virtual spacewalk around Axiom Station, explaining the various design elements and future experience for Axiom astronauts, including a look out of Axiom’s Earth observatory cupola, eight of the largest windows ever constructed for the space environment with breathtaking views of planet Earth.
The audience was then invited to participate in the session with questions and ideas. Several audience members donned the Axiom virtual reality headsets and toured the station for themselves, with their journey projected to all in attendance.
The step-by-step narration of Axiom Station design and capabilities was an exclusive “out of this world experience for the IAC attendees. Below is a short clip of Lopez-Alegria flying to Axiom’s earth observatory cupola.