South Korean company Boryeong, which has invested in the U.S. space firm Axiom Space, will see Axiom launch its fourth private spaceflight mission next year. Partnering with SpaceX and its founder Elon Musk, Axiom aims to spearhead private-sector space development.
According to NASA, Axiom is set to begin its Ax-4 mission in the first quarter of next year. The mission was initially planned for this year, but delays in obtaining approval from the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP) of the International Space Station (ISS) pushed the schedule back.
Axiom’s crewed space missions, known as AX, started in 2022. The company completed three missions: AX-1 in April 2022, AX-2 in May last year, and AX-3 in January. These missions sent astronauts of various nationalities from the U.S., Greece, Canada, Italy, and Turkey to the low Earth orbit laboratory for space science research and experiments. The goal is to foster international cooperation for private-sector-led space development, with plans to continue these missions twice a year through 2026.
The astronauts for the AX-4 mission arrived in Houston, Texas, earlier this month to begin training with NASA, Axiom, and SpaceX. This team is led by American astronaut Peggy Whitson, who also commanded the AX-2 mission last year; this team includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary who will engage in scientific research and activities to advance space commercialization.
The crew will launch aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, powered by the Falcon 9 rocket, also used in previous AX missions.
Axiom is accelerating its efforts in private-sector space development. Its vision is to build Axiom Station, a commercial space station that will replace the ISS by 2030. The company is focused on producing the station’s first module, aiming for its launch in 2026.
Axiom CEO Michael Suffredini stated, “Ax-4 represents Axiom Space’s continued efforts to build opportunity for countries to research, innovate, test, and engage with people around the world while in low-Earth orbit.”
Boryeong made a strategic investment of $50 million in Axiom in December 2022. This followed the company’s earlier announcement of the CIS (Care In Space) project, which aims to explore new business opportunities in space healthcare. In August last year, Boryeong also participated in Axiom’s Series C funding round, contributing $350 million.
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