KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (FL), January 10, 2024 More than two dozen investigations sponsored by the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, many of which focus on the life sciences, will fly on Axiom Spaces third private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory. Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) aims to help expand a new era of privatized utilization of the space station that will bring value to humanity while enabling the development of a robust and sustainable market in low Earth orbit (LEO) by advancing research in microgravity.

Four astronauts are slated to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft to the space station no earlier than Wednesday, January 17, at 5:11 p.m. EST from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During a planned two-week mission, Axiom Spaces chief astronaut and former NASA astronaut Michael Lpez-Alegra (commander), Walter Villadei of Italy (pilot), Alper Gezeravc of Trkiye (mission specialist), and European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut Marcus Wandt of Sweden (mission specialist) will conduct more than 30 experiments.

Building on years of foundational research performed in microgravity, a number of these investigations aim to utilize the unique LEO environment to better understand an array of biological processes, including how spaceflight affects the human body, the mechanisms behind certain diseases, and how stem cell research can help lead to the development of novel therapeutics.

Below are some highlights of the investigations launching on the Ax-3 mission:

Through these private astronaut missions, Axiom Space and the ISS National Lab partner to expand access to the unique microgravity environment for the benefit of humanity. Ax-3 represents the first all-European commercial mission to the space station, further expanding spaceflight opportunities to more countries, companies, and people. In addition to the projects highlighted above, Ax-3 includes a strong focus on the scientific portfolios of the European nations represented on this mission, seeking to enhance scientific knowledge gained for humanity.

Read more about these investigations and others launching on this mission in Axiom Spaces Research Overview and on the ISS National Lab Ax-3 launch page.

Download the high-resolution image for this release: Axiom-2 Launch

Media Contact: Patrick ONeill 904-806-0035 PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org

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About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory: The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CASIS accepts corporate and individual donations to help advance science in space for the benefit of humanity. For more information, visit our donations page.

About Axiom Space: Axiom Space is building for beyond, guided by the vision of a thriving home in space that benefits every human, everywhere. The leading provider of human spaceflight services and developer of human-rated space infrastructure, Axiom Space operates end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while developing its successor, Axiom Station the worlds first commercial space station in low-Earth orbit, which will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home. For more information visit Axiom Spaces website.

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Life Science Research Heads to the ISS on Axiom Mission 3 - ISS National Lab