{"id":596430,"date":"2024-01-18T17:27:29","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T22:27:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?post_type=press-release&p=596430"},"modified":"2024-02-28T20:37:00","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T01:37:00","slug":"nasa-partners-to-welcome-private-crew-aboard-space-station","status":"publish","type":"press-release","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-partners-to-welcome-private-crew-aboard-space-station\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA, Partners to Welcome Private Crew Aboard Space Station"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1014\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg 3295w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg?resize=300,149 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg?resize=768,380 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg?resize=1024,507 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg?resize=1536,761 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg?resize=2048,1014 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg?resize=400,198 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg?resize=600,297 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg?resize=900,446 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg?resize=1200,594 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg?resize=2000,991 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), the third all private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, lifts off at 4:49 p.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 18, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>As part of NASA\u2019s efforts to enable more access to space, four private astronauts are in orbit following the successful launch of the third all private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Axiom Space astronauts lifted off at 4:49 p.m. EST on Thursday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the company\u2019s Dragon spacecraft carrying Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew members Commander Michael L\u00f3pez-Alegr\u00eda, Pilot Walter Villadei, and Mission Specialists Marcus Wandt and Alper Gezeravci into orbit. The crew will spend about two weeks conducting microgravity research, educational outreach, and commercial activities aboard the space station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCongratulations to Axiom and SpaceX on a successful launch! Together with our commercial partners, NASA is supporting a growing commercial space economy and the future of space technology,\u201d said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. \u201cDuring their time aboard the International Space Station, the Ax-3 astronauts will carry out more than 30 scientific experiments that will help advance research in low-Earth orbit. As the first all-European commercial astronaut mission to the space station, the Ax-3 crew is proof that the possibility of space unites us all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beginning at 2:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, NASA will provide coverage of the SpaceX Dragon\u2019s docking, hatch opening, and welcoming remarks on the <a href=\"https:\/\/plus.nasa.gov\/scheduled-video\/coverage-of-the-rendezvous-and-docking-of-the-spacex-dragon-freedom-and-the-axiom-3-crew\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA+<\/a> streaming service. Coverage also will air live on NASA Television, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/apps\/\">NASA app<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/nasa\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube<\/a>, and the agency\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/nasatv\/\">website<\/a>. Learn how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/general\/how-to-stream-nasa-tv\/\">stream NASA TV<\/a> through a variety of platforms, including social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Dragon spacecraft will dock autonomously to the forward port of the station\u2019s Harmony module as early as 4:19 a.m. Saturday. Hatches between Dragon and the station are expected to open after 6 a.m., allowing the Axiom crew to enter the complex for a welcoming ceremony and start their stay aboard the orbiting laboratory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once aboard the station, Expedition 70 crew members, including NASA astronauts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/moghbeli-j.pdf?emrc=cb439d\">Jasmin Moghbeli<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ohara-l.pdf?emrc=2068fe\">Loral O\u2019Hara<\/a>, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esa.int\/Science_Exploration\/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration\/Astronauts\/Andreas_Mogensen\" rel=\"noopener\">Andreas Mogensen<\/a>, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Furukawa Satoshi, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Konstantin Borisov, Oleg Kononenko, and Nikolai Chub, will welcome the Ax-3 crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Ax-3 astronauts are expected to depart the space station Saturday, Feb. 3, pending weather, for a return to Earth and splashdown at a landing site off the coast of Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA\u2019s efforts, including private astronaut missions, are opening access to low Earth orbit for private industry allowing the agency to become one of many customers in a thriving commercial economy in space. As NASA enables commercial space, the agency also is readying for Artemis missions to the Moon in preparation for Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information about NASA\u2019s commercial low Earth orbit economy development, visit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/commercial-space\/\">https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/commercial-space\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">-end-<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Julian Coltre<br>Headquarters, Washington<br>202-358-1100<br><a href=\"mailto:julian.n.coltre@nasa.gov\">julian.n.coltre@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rebecca Turkington<br>Johnson Space Center, Houston<br>281-483-5111<br><a href=\"mailto:rebecca.turkington@nasa.gov\">rebecca.turkington@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?via=NASA&text=NASA%2C%20Partners%20to%20Welcome%20Private%20Crew%20Aboard%20Space%20Station&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fnews-release%2Fnasa-partners-to-welcome-private-crew-aboard-space-station%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on X.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"1200\" height=\"1227\" viewBox=\"0 0 1200 1227\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M714.163 519.284L1160.89 0H1055.03L667.137 450.887L357.328 0H0L468.492 681.821L0 1226.37H105.866L515.491 750.218L842.672 1226.37H1200L714.137 519.284H714.163ZM569.165 687.828L521.697 619.934L144.011 79.6944H306.615L611.412 515.685L658.88 583.579L1055.08 1150.3H892.476L569.165 687.854V687.828Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fnews-release%2Fnasa-partners-to-welcome-private-crew-aboard-space-station%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fnews-release%2Fnasa-partners-to-welcome-private-crew-aboard-space-station%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on LinkedIn.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M4.98 3.5c0 1.381-1.11 2.5-2.48 2.5s-2.48-1.119-2.48-2.5c0-1.38 1.11-2.5 2.48-2.5s2.48 1.12 2.48 2.5zm.02 4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-rss\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/feed\/\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to RSS feed.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 800 800\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Feb 28, 2024<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row\"><div class=\"grid-col-4\"><div class=\"subheading\">Location<\/div><\/div><div class=\"grid-col-8\"><a class=\"hds-location-tag-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/nasa-headquarters\/\"><span class=\"hds-meta-heading\">NASA Headquarters<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2><\/div><ul class=\"article-tags\"><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/expedition-70\/\">Expedition 70<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/\">International Space Station (ISS)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As part of NASA\u2019s efforts to enable more access to space, four private astronauts are in orbit following the successful launch of the third all private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Axiom Space astronauts lifted off at 4:49 p.m. EST on Thursday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":497,"featured_media":596472,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":["283564","283575"],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"24-013","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[9417,2735],"news-tags":[12376],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[12832],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"NASA, Partners to Welcome Private Crew Aboard Space Station","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-partners-to-welcome-private-crew-aboard-space-station\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-partners-to-welcome-private-crew-aboard-space-station\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg"},"articleSection":"Missions","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Roxana Bardan"}],"creator":["Roxana Bardan"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Missions","International Space Station (ISS)","Expedition 70"],"dateCreated":"2024-01-18T22:27:29Z","datePublished":"2024-01-18T22:27:29Z","dateModified":"2024-02-29T01:37:00Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA, Partners to Welcome Private Crew Aboard Space Station\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-partners-to-welcome-private-crew-aboard-space-station\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2024-01-18T22:27:29Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Missions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,International Space Station (ISS),Expedition 70\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Roxana Bardan\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":3,"featured_image":{"id":596472,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped.jpg","title":"axiom-3-launch-screencap-cropped","alt":"","caption":"Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), the third all private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, lifts off at 4:49 p.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 18, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/596430"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-release"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/497"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/596430\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":596477,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/596430\/revisions\/596477"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/596472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=596430"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=596430"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=596430"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=596430"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=596430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}