Axiom Mission 1 Launch Readiness Review, Prelaunch News Conference set for April 7
Mission managers with NASA, Axiom, and SpaceX will participate in a Launch Readiness Review for Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) on Thursday, April 7. The first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Ax-1 is scheduled to launch no earlier than 11:17 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 8.
The results of the review will be discussed during a prelaunch news conference targeted for 3 p.m. EDT on April 7, or one hour after the review ends. NASA will provide a livestream of the news conference at: https://www.nasa.gov/live.
Participants include:
- Dana Weigel, International Space Station Deputy Program Manager, NASA
- Angela Hart, Commercial LEO Program Manager, NASA
- Michael Suffredini, President and CEO, Axiom Space
- Derek Hassmann, Operations Director, Axiom Space
- Benjamin Reed, Senior Director, Human Spaceflight Programs, SpaceX
- Launch Weather Officer, 45th Weather Squadron, U.S. Space Force
Ax-1 crew members Commander Michael López-Alegría of Spain and the United States, Pilot Larry Connor of the United States, and Mission Specialists Eytan Stibbe of Israel and Mark Pathy of Canada will travel to the space station on the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft after launching on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
During the 10-day mission, the crew will spend eight days aboard the International Space Station conducting scientific research, outreach, and commercial activities.
Weather officials with the 45th Weather Squadron are predicting an 80% chance of favorable weather conditions for launch, with the primary concern being the thick cloud layer rule. Teams also are monitoring the down range weather for the flight path of the Crew Dragon.
Follow the link for more information about the mission’s briefings, events, and broadcast schedule.
For more information about NASA’s low-Earth orbit commercialization activities, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/leo-economy/.
