Axiom Mission 3

Axiom Mission 3
Launch of Ax-3 on a Falcon 9 rocket
NamesAx-3
Mission typePrivate spaceflight to the ISS
Operator
COSPAR ID2024-014A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.58815Edit this on Wikidata
Websitewww.axiomspace.com/missions/ax3 Edit this at Wikidata
Mission duration21 days, 15 hours, 41 minutes
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftCrew Dragon Freedom
Spacecraft typeCrew Dragon
ManufacturerSpaceX
Launch mass12,519 kg (27,600 lb)
Landing mass9,616 kg (21,200 lb)
Crew
Crew size4
Members
Start of mission
Launch date18 January 2024, 21:49:11 (18 January 2024, 21:49:11) UTC (5:49:11 pm EST)[1]
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5 (B1080.5), Flight 291
Launch siteKennedy, LC‑39A
ContractorSpaceX
End of mission
Recovered byMV Shannon
Landing date9 February 2024, 13:30 (9 February 2024, 13:30) UTC (8:30 am EST)
Landing siteAtlantic Ocean, near Daytona Beach, Florida (29°48′N 80°42′W / 29.8°N 80.7°W / 29.8; -80.7)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Inclination51.66°
Docking with ISS
Docking portHarmony forward
Docking date20 January 2024, 10:42 UTC[2]
Undocking date7 February 2024, 14:20 UTC
Time docked18 days, 3 hours, 38 minutes

From left: López-Alegría, Wandt, Gezeravcı and Villadei, in black jumpsuits

Axiom Mission 3 (or Ax-3) was a private spaceflight to the International Space Station. The flight launched on 18 January 2024,[1] and lasted for 21 days, successfully splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean.[3] It was operated by Axiom Space and used a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.[4] The booster, B1080, had previously flown Axiom-2, among other high-profile missions.[5]

  1. ^ a b "Falcon 9 Block 5 - Axiom Mission 3 (AX-3)". Next Spaceflight. December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  2. ^ "Ax-3 Docks to Station Aboard Dragon Spacecraft - Space Station". NASA. January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  3. ^ "NASA Selects Axiom Space for Third Private Astronaut Station Mission". NASA (Press release). March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  4. ^ "Axiom and SpaceX sign blockbuster deal". Axiom Space. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  5. ^ Jones, Caleb. "Space Launch Now - B1080". Space Launch Now. Retrieved March 22, 2024.