Axiom-3 Launches From Kennedy Space Center

Minutes before a warm front brought heavy showers to Kennedy Space Center, SpaceX launched the Axiom 3 mission on a 16 day round trip to the ISS. Four Axiom Space astronauts rode the chartered Space-X Crew Dragon module to orbit on top of a Falcon 9 booster at 4:49 PM EST this evening. The all-European crew is expected to dock at ISS in two days’ time and stay aboard the station until February 3, 2024.

The AX-3 Crew

Axiom Space’s Chief Astronaut Michael López-Alegría is the mission commander, and the 65-year-old NASA veteran is now on his fifth spaceflight. He is a dual-citizen U.S. and Spain. The mission pilot is Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei, and the two mission specialists are Alper Gezeravcı of Türkiye and ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt of Sweden. Villadei, Gezeravcı, and Wandt have extensive flight crew experience and served in their nation’s Air Forces.

AX-3 Launched One Day Later Than Planned

Today’s successful launch came after a one-day delay. With roughly six hours left in the countdown yesterday, SpaceX called for a one-day delay to “allow teams to complete pre-launch checkouts and data analysis on the vehicle.” No other reason was given at the time.

In a January 16th press conference, however, SpaceX did outline some areas of concern: first, parachutes in an uncrewed Dragon mission had performed differently than expected and secondly, the connectors that mate the Crew Dragon capsule to Falcon 9 were torqued incorrectly. While those concerns were not cited in today’s announcement, they may be what mission managers and engineers want to review before committing to a crewed flight.

Booster Safely Returns to LZ-1

After lofting Crew Dragon off the launch pad and sending it on its way to orbit, Booster B1080 completed its work by safely touching down at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Landing Zone 1. Previously the booster has also launched the Axiom-2 mission, the Euclid space telescope, as well as two Starlink missions.

As usual, the returning booster announced its arrival back to solid ground with twin sonic booms heard for dozens of miles around the Space Coast region.

After the launch, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said, “congratulations 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.”

Nelson added that “during 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.”

Mission Update: Next Up – Docking with the ISS

Axiom Space reports that Commander Michael López-Alegría, leading the Ax-3 mission, has confirmed the crew’s safety and well-being as they head towards a rendezvous with the ISS.

The Dragon spacecraft is currently en route, with an anticipated arrival at the space-facing port of the ISS Harmony module. The docking is scheduled for as early as 4:19 a.m. ET on Jan. 20. This autonomous approach to the ISS represents a critical phase of the mission, as precise calculations and coordination are essential for a successful docking.

Watch the ISS Docking Live

A live webcast will begin at 2:30 a.m. ET Jan 20th, allowing space enthusiasts and the general public to witness the spacecraft’s approach and docking. The webcast will be available on Axiom Space’s website, NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website, providing comprehensive coverage of this milestone in space exploration.

The crew’s arrival at the ISS will be marked by an arrival ceremony, welcoming them aboard the orbiting laboratory. During their mission, the astronauts will engage in microgravity research, technological demonstrations, and outreach activities, contributing to our understanding of life in space.

To stay updated on the mission’s progress, space enthusiasts are encouraged to follow the hashtag #Ax3 on X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and visit the mission’s website for the latest news and insights.

FMN Senior Correspondent Mark Stone contributed to this article.

Note: Portions of this story was originally published at Talk of Titusville