When Axiom Space’s third private astronaut mission, Ax-3, launches to the space station, it will carry an all-European crew of astronauts and dozens of investigations sponsored by the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory.
Many of these investigations will test technology that could be valuable for future long-duration spaceflight. The mission, which is slated to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than Wednesday, January 17, at 5:11 p.m. EST, will help expand a new era of private utilization of the orbital laboratory and advance technological innovations for the benefit of humanity.
The Ax-3 crew includes Axiom Space’s chief astronaut and former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría (commander); Walter Villadei of Italy (pilot); Alper Gezeravcı of Türkiye (mission specialist); and European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut Marcus Wandt of Sweden (mission specialist). During the two-week mission, the crew will conduct more than 30 experiments, including several to test materials and technology to protect space travelers from radiation and other harsh conditions in space.
Here are highlights of some of the technology development investigations launching on the Ax-3 mission:
- A project in partnership with Italian race car company Dallara aims to take aerospace materials to the next level by evaluating how effective various advanced materials are at withstanding radiation during spaceflight. Acute radiation in the space environment can degrade solid materials over time, compromising the functionality of satellites and spacecraft. The materials being tested in the radiation-shielding textiles investigation could be used for future space stations, spacecraft, and even spacesuits.
- Through a collaboration with the Italian government and commercial industry, Ax-3 crew members will test the Smart Flight Suit 2. This innovative suit is certified by NASA to collect valuable medical data on astronauts, such as temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. Built to be a blend of comfort and functionality, the suit is designed with next-generation fabrics that make it breathable, while meeting the strict requirements of NASA to protect astronauts during spaceflight.
- In an investigation from the Italian Space Agency, the Ax-3 crew will test a software upgrade to the Anomalous Long-Term Effects in Astronauts (ALTEA) radiation detector currently onboard the space station. The crew will also reorient the Light Ion Detector (LIDAL) hardware in ALTEA that provides more comprehensive insights into the radiation environment on the orbiting laboratory. With LIDAL, ALTEA can be used to determine in real time the amount of ionizing radiation being absorbed by space station crew members. This represents the first real-time radiation “risk meter” in a space habitat. The system could also be used on future exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Read more about these investigations and others launching on this mission in Axiom Space’s Research Overview and on the ISS National Lab Ax-3 launch page.