Axiom Space’s crew of four private astronauts returned to Earth after an 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station, landing safely off the coast of Florida on Friday.
The Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew first launched aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft on January 18 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. After separating from the ISS on Wednesday, the spacecraft landed on Friday around 8:30 a.m. in Daytona Beach, Florida.
It was the space company’s third crewed mission to the ISS and the first commercial spaceflight of national astronauts supported by the government and the European Space Agency.
While at the space outpost, the Ax-3 crew conducted more than 30 experiments, including microgravity research, and more than 50 training activities. The mission was also a milestone for Axiom Station, a commercial space station currently under construction that will operate in low Earth orbit. According to the company, the target launch date for the private space station is 2026.
#Ax3 Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravcı @TURKastro makes history as the first Turkish astronaut @tuajans @tubitakuzay, inspiring the next generation of explorers. pic.twitter.com/HREmWnldBI
— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) February 9, 2024
“The successful return of our Ax-3 astronauts means much more than the completion of a manned spaceflight mission,” said Michael Suffredini, CEO of Axiom Space. “It marks a pivotal moment in commercial space exploration and an important milestone for Europe’s pursuits in low Earth orbit.”
