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Members of the Axiom Mission 3 crew aboard the International Space Station are: Marcus Wandt (left), Michael López-Alegría, Alper Gezeravci and Walter Villadei.
HOUSTON—NASA has requested proposals from American-led companies for two private astronaut missions to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of its ongoing strategy to transition the scientific development activities underway aboard the orbital lab to commercially owned and operated successors.
Currently envisioned dates for the missions, which could spend up to 14 days docked to the ISS’ U.S. segment, are no earlier than May 2026 and mid-2027, according to a detailed 50-page, evolving NASA solicitation notice updated on April 3 and entitled, “Research Opportunities for ISS Utilization.”
Proposals are to be submitted electronically by May 30 at 5 p.m. EDT.
“We are in an incredible time for human spaceflight, with more opportunities to access space and grow a thriving commercial economy in low-Earth orbit,’’ said Dana Weigel, NASA’s ISS program manager, as part of an April 2 agency statement announcing the solicitation.
“NASA remains committed to supporting this expansion by leveraging our decades of expertise to help industry gain the experience needed to train and manage crews, conduct research and develop future destinations” Weigel continued. “Private astronaut missions are a key part of this effort, providing companies with hands-on opportunities to refine their capabilities and build partnerships that will shape low-Earth orbit.”
The missions would be the fifth and sixth to the ISS launched as part of NASA private astronaut initiative.
Houston-based Axiom Space launched the first, a 17-day mission in April 2022. Axiom launched the second, a 10-day mission in May 2023, and the third, a 21-day mission in January 2024. A fourth Axiom private astronaut mission to the ISS spanning up to 14 days is planned for launch no earlier than May.
Each mission has turned to SpaceX Crew Dragon capsules for transportation of crews, commanded by retired NASA astronauts employed by Axiom, and launched aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets.
Focused on research and outreach activities, each of Axiom’s missions also have included an increasing focus on international participation with private astronaut participants representing Canada, Israel, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden and Turkey. Axiom’s fourth mission is scheduled to include participants from the European Space Agency, Hungary and the Indian Space Research Organization.
In February of 2020, NASA entered a $140 million firm, fixed-price agreement with Axiom to initiate the development of a multi-module commercial space station that could temporarily dock its first elements to the ISS. NASA plans to retire it in 2030 after three decades of continuous habitation by professional astronauts and cosmonauts.
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