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Axiom Space has set coverage for the return of its historic Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1), the first all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the four-person multinational crew is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station at 10:35 a.m. EDT Tuesday, April 19, to begin the journey back to Earth. The spacecraft is anticipated to splash down no earlier than 7:19 a.m. Wednesday, April 20, off the coast of Florida. If needed for any reason, additional opportunities are available for the crew’s departure from the space station on Tuesday, April 19, and Wednesday, April 20.
Coverage of the Ax-1 return will include four separate segments over two days – farewell ceremony, hatch closure, undocking and splashdown. All segments will be available at AxiomSpace.com
Axiom Space and NASA will begin joint coverage on the morning of Tuesday, April 19, with a farewell ceremony between the Ax-1 and Expedition 67 crews. Joint coverage will include hatch closure which will air live on NASA Television, the agency’s website, and AxiomSpace.com
Axiom Space, NASA and SpaceX will produce joint coverage for undocking at 10:15 am.
Then on Wednesday, April 20, Axiom Space and SpaceX will begin joint webcast coverage through splashdown beginning at 6:15 am EDT on AxiomSpace.com.
Ax-1 is the first of several proposed Axiom missions to the ISS and an important step toward Axiom Station, the world’s first private space station, which will serve as a hub in low-Earth orbit for research and exploration.
Ax-1 Commander Michael López-Alegría, Pilot Larry Connor, and Mission Specialists Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy will complete 12 days in space at the conclusion of their mission. SpaceX Dragon Endeavour, the Ax-1 spacecraft, will return to Earth with more than 200 pounds of science and supplies, including NASA experiments, hardware and commercial science payloads.
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