Thread by @thesheetztweetz

NASA and Axiom Space are talking to reporters about the AX-1 mission.

AX-1 is scheduled to fly four private astronauts to the ISS for eight days in January 2022, launching with SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon vehicles.

Thread:

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson Axiom previously announced the AX-1 mission and crew: cnbc.com/2021/01/26/axi…

NASA today is announcing an agreement with Axiom for AX-1, which will purchase services from the space agency and carry crew supplies to the ISS. nasa.gov/press-release/…

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson NASA commercial spaceflight development director Phil McAlister, noting the recent milestones and upcoming crewed missions from SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and Boeing:

"This truly is a renaissance in U.S. human spaceflight"

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson .@NASA_Johnson deputy ISS manager Dana Weigel:

The private AX-1 astronauts will be living and working in the U.S. segment ... NASA will also review the astronauts' training and medical screening.

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson Axiom CEO Michael Suffredini:

These private crewed flights represent "stepping stones towards [Axiom] operating our own space station, both with NASA while we're attached and then later when we separate upon retirement of the International Space Station."

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson Axiom CEO Suffredini:

Each of the AX-1 astronauts are "focused on their philanthropic efforts and have worked closely in their countries to help develop research and other activities for further causes that are good for the countries and really good for humanity as a whole."

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson AX-1 @CommanderMLA:

"My enthusiasm for expanding human spaceflight" began in 2006 when flying with private astronaut @AnoushehAnsari.

"I'll admit that I was less than keen at the idea at first" but was won over by "her complete professionalism during training and the mission."

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson @CommanderMLA @AnoushehAnsari Axiom CEO Michael Suffredini: "We have a high degree of confidence in the late January date" for AX-1's launch.

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson @CommanderMLA @AnoushehAnsari Suffredini says Axiom does not yet know which Crew Dragon spacecraft the AX-1 mission will use, "it's possible we could be" flying with Endeavour.

"The great thing about about SpaceX is any one of the spacecraft will work."

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson @CommanderMLA @AnoushehAnsari Angela Hart says NASA is paying a net $1.69 million to Axiom in the transfer of services and resources for the AX-1 mission, but that doesn't all the agreements in place.

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson @CommanderMLA @AnoushehAnsari Axiom VP Michael López-Alegría, on the definition of an astronaut:

"I would say anybody that goes to space is an astronaut."

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson @CommanderMLA @AnoushehAnsari Axiom CEO Michael Suffredini says "we don't generally talk about the" specific prices its private astronauts pay.

"It's been widely reported, numbers in the tens of millions [of dollars], which I wouldn't argue with."

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson @CommanderMLA @AnoushehAnsari Axiom would like to fly private missions at "a cadence of about roughly twice a year – it probably works out to once every 7 months or so," Suffredini says.

"But both the SpaceX and Boeing vehicles and launch vehicles have to be available, and the ISS has to be available."

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson @CommanderMLA @AnoushehAnsari Suffredini says Axiom has "things lined up" for flights AX-2, AX-3, and AX-3.

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson @CommanderMLA @AnoushehAnsari Suffredini: The cost of human spaceflight is "very high today" and "you have to have a bit of liquid capital available to fly ... so it's a bit limited."

"It's an expensive business in general, but the more you fly and the more competition you have," the more prices come down.

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson @CommanderMLA @AnoushehAnsari López-Alegría says the four AX-1 astronauts in July will go on a team bonding camping trip together in Alaska.

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson @CommanderMLA @AnoushehAnsari López-Alegría and pilot Larry Connor will then do a week of Dragon-specific training at SpaceX's headquarters at the end of July.

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson @CommanderMLA @AnoushehAnsari The full AX-1 crew will begin training together in October, with about two-thirds of the time focused on ISS-specific training in Houston and the other third focused on Dragon at SpaceX HQ.

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson @CommanderMLA @AnoushehAnsari NASA’s Dana Weigel notes that the ISS has two docking ports and two berthing ports, so the space station is limited to two private astronaut missions per year.

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson @CommanderMLA @AnoushehAnsari NASA’s Angela Hart:

"We are seeing a lot of interest in private astronaut missions, even outside of Axiom, and so at this point demand exceeds what we actually believe the opportunities on station will be."

@Axiom_Space @Commercial_Crew @NASA_Johnson @CommanderMLA @AnoushehAnsari Suffredini says Axiom would like the AX-1 crew to have time to "at least spend a little time in the entire space station, including the Russian segment."

"We will work those arrangements with Roscosmos."