Axiom Mission 1 Non-public Astronaut Crew Safely Splashes Down Close to Florida

Axiom Mission 1 Private Astronaut Crew Safely Splashes Down Near Florida - SciTechDaily

Axiom Mission 1 Crew Splashdown

SpaceX’s Dragon Endeavour capsule splashes down within the Atlantic Ocean on April 25, 2022, marking the top of Axiom House’s Axiom Mission 1 – the primary all-private astronaut mission to the Worldwide House Station. Credit score: Axiom House

Axiom House astronauts Michael López-Alegría, Larry Connor, Eytan Stibbe, and Mark Pathy have safely returned to Earth, marking the top of the Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) – the primary non-public astronaut mission to the Worldwide House Station (ISS). SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, carrying the crew of 4 and greater than 200 kilos of science and provides, together with NASA experiments and {hardware}, undocked from the house station at 9:10 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 24. About 16 hours later, the car splashed down within the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida.

“The success of this primary non-public astronaut mission to the Worldwide House Station is a vital step in opening alternatives for house vacationers and attaining NASA’s objective of enabling business enterprise off the planet in low-Earth orbit,” mentioned NASA Administrator Invoice Nelson. “This progress has been made potential by NASA’s work with non-public trade – particularly the Business Crew Program. I’m extremely happy with the NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom groups for safely finishing this landmark mission. Welcome residence, Ax-1!”

Fresh Chile Peppers ISS

Contemporary chile peppers are pictured rising contained in the Worldwide House Station’s Superior Plant Habitat shortly earlier than being harvested late final yr. Credit score: NASA

The crew spent 15 days in orbit, conducting a wide range of science experiments and expertise demonstrations. A couple of highlights embody analysis on most cancers cell development, an indication testing a brand new air air purifier for station use, and a research using swarms of autonomous tiles for future purposes of in-space building.

Following splashdown, groups will retrieve science aboard the Dragon spacecraft and transport it to close by Kennedy House Heart for additional investigation. Kennedy’s proximity to the coast permits researchers to check their experiments mere hours after their return to Earth, whereas the consequences of microgravity are nonetheless largely intact.

SpaceX Dragon Endeavour Crew Ship Docked to ISS Harmony Module

The SpaceX Dragon Endeavour crew ship is pictured docked to the Concord module’s space-facing worldwide docking adapter. Endeavour carried 4 Axiom Mission 1 astronauts, Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria, Pilot Larry Connor, and Mission Specialists Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy, to the Worldwide House Station for what turned out to be 15 days of analysis, schooling, and business actions. Credit score: NASA

NASA is partnering with business firms to determine a sturdy low-Earth orbit economic system – one the place authorities and personal astronauts stay and work aboard the house station and future business habitats. NASA not too long ago chosen Axiom House to barter for a second non-public astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory and plans to announce a 3rd flight alternative later this yr.


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