About
- NASA and Axiom Space, an American privately funded space infrastructure developer, signed an order for the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS, aiming to launch in August 2024 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
- The Axiom-4 Mission aims to dock with the ISS for a fourteen-day duration.
- Indian astronauts will receive training from NASA, international partners, and SpaceX, focusing on spacecraft systems and emergency preparedness as part of India-US space cooperation goals.
- Axiom Space has contracted SpaceX as a launch provider for transportation to and from the space station and to familiarize the private astronauts with systems, procedures, and emergency preparedness for the Dragon spacecraft
Mission Objectives
Commercial Space Endeavours:
- Axiom-4 aims to facilitate commercial activities in space, including scientific research, technological development, and space tourism.
- The mission will help demonstrate the viability of commercial space stations as a platform for business and innovation.
International Collaboration:
- Axiom-4 is set to carry a diverse crew of astronauts from different countries, reflecting the growing international interest in space exploration.
- This mission will strengthen partnerships between nations and contribute to global space initiatives.
Research and Development:
- The mission will support various scientific experiments and technological tests in the unique microgravity environment of space.
- Research areas include materials science, biology, Earth observation, and more, with the potential to yield groundbreaking discoveries and innovations.
Key Features of Axiom-4 Mission
Spacecraft and Crew:
- The mission will use a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
- The crew will consist of professional astronauts and private individuals, including researchers and potentially tourists, who have undergone rigorous training for the mission.
Duration and Activities:
- Axiom-4 is expected to be a short-duration mission, lasting approximately 14 days.
- During their time aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the crew will conduct scientific experiments, perform technology demonstrations, and engage in educational outreach.
Commercial Space Station Development:
- Axiom Space’s long-term vision includes building the world’s first commercial space station.
- The Axiom-4 mission is part of the company’s broader plan to eventually transition from the ISS to its own independent orbital outpost.
Participating Space Agencies
- It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (USA)
- Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities (Russia)
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Japan)
- European Space Agency (Europe)
- Canadian Space Agency (Canada)
- The station is divided into two sections:
- The Russian Orbital Segment (ROS) – Operated by Russia,
- The United States Orbital Segment (USOS) – Operated by the US as well as many other nations.
- The ownership & use of the space station is established by intergovernmental treaties & agreements.
What is the International Space Station (ISS)?
- The ISS is a large, permanently crewed laboratory that orbits Earth 400 kilometers above its surface. It is home to astronauts and cosmonauts and serves as a unique science laboratory.
- Its research is expected to lead to advancements in many areas, including medicine, technology, science, and understanding of the Earth and universe.
- It’s a collaboration between 15 countries and five space agencies, namely NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and CSA (Canadian Space Agency).
- An international crew of seven people lives and works while the space station travels at a speed of 7.66 km/sec, orbiting Earth about every 90 minutes. In 24 hours, the space station makes 16 orbits of Earth, traveling through 16 sunrises and sunsets.
- Peggy Whitson set the US record for spending the most total time living and working in space for 665 days.
- The first parts of the ISS were sent and assembled in orbit in 1998. Since the year 2000, the ISS has had crews living continuously on board.