Commercial space agency Axiom Space allowed the world’s first fully personal voyage to the International Space Station in April, but only after a major test of NASA’s new Artemis 1 moon rocket.
The Ax work1 To the International Space Station, it sent an aircraft readiness review on Friday (March 25) that allowed the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to launch after April 3. The mission will depart from Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX Missions launched by NASA astronauts aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft.
The ship will have a former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez Allegri As captain, he paid the passengers Larry Connor (pilot), Mark Patty and Aidan Stipe (both mission professionals). Each passenger paid $ 55 million for the opportunity.
Live announcements: Special mission for the Ax-1 space station
Images: The first space tourists
But NASA Artemis1 The lunar rocket, stationed at a nearby launch pad 39B, must complete a biofuel test known as a “wet rehearsal” before the Axiom space can continue its Ax-1 mission. NASA says the refueling test is scheduled for April 1 to April 3.
“Artemis 1 has a limit,” Katherine Louders, co-executive director of NASA’s Directorate of Space Operations, said during a conference call on Friday. Commenting on the Artemis 1 test, Luthers added, “Our plan is to do this as soon as possible.”
Artemis 1 simulates a countdown on board to ensure job introductions during wet clothing rehearsals Space launch system The rocket is ready for its first flight, an unmanned aircraft around the moon.
Artemis 1 and Axium 1 stand close together at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Artemis 1 can finish the wet dress rehearsal on the morning of April 3rd at Launch Complex 39B.
Assuming the rehearsal went as planned, Axiom 1 could explode on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Launch Complex 39A at 1:13 pm EDT (1713 GMT). NASA has confirmed that the schedule will be tight and subject to change.
Loaders acknowledged that such traffic jams were a “good problem” because it showed a set of healthy tasks. However, the situation can lead to backups, especially in the event of weather or technical issues.
During the same press conference, it was stated that the Ax-1 would not affect the mission of another space dragon on NASA’s space station Crew-4 until April 7. Crew-4 is scheduled to launch on April 19th.
It is necessary to calculate the different number of these vehicles staying in space and their returns. Landing in Kennedy is often difficult, it is anti-Atlantic and subject to weather, so NASA officials have stressed that everyone should be flexible with launch and landing dates in the coming weeks.
But if all goes as planned, the Ax-1 will make an eight-day voyage with the space station on April 5. Dedicated to science On behalf of several companies associated with astronauts. Overall, the team plans to spend one-tenth (100 hours) of their time in science, medicine and technology research.
However, one advantage of many missions is that objects in space can return to Earth much earlier. Dana Weigel, Deputy Program Manager at NASA’s International Space Station, noted that NASA has partnered with the Ax-1 team to bring some science and other materials to Earth.
“We have partnered with Axiom to bring back our two freezers with important scientific frozen samples,” Weigel said. “It simply came to our notice then. [and] We tend to get a structure in orbit. They will help us by giving us back a large air tank.
The readiness review went well and it was described that both the crew and the instrument were ready for the opportunity.
“Human spaceflight is incredibly humble and challenging, and we should always listen to our hardware and not focus on schedules,” said William Kirstenmeyer, vice president of construction and aeronautical reliability at SpaceX.
“We need to listen to the data, learn from the real world, and make sure we’re ready to fly safely,” Kerstenmeyer added. “I think today’s review shows that this team is ready to do that and that we are ready for this wonderful time.”
A step towards private space stations
The Ax-1 will be a testing ground for Axiom, which aims to run its commercial space station. The Houston-based company plans to launch a special unit for the International Space Station in 2024.
Axiom hopes to quickly develop the flight experience of its aircraft. NASA already exists Ax 2 light greenIt is currently scheduled to launch from Kennedy in 2023. Former NASA astronaut Becky Whitson Is set as Command Recommended flight. The Ax-2, Ax-3 and Ax-4 have been contracted to fly with SpaceX.
The company said the Ax-2 would be as short an aircraft as the Ax-1, but future trips would last up to 30 days at a time once the Axiom Space module arrives at the station.
“It simply came to our notice then [Ax-1] Michael Safredini, Axiom’s President and CEO for NASA from 2005 to 2015 and former International Space Station Project Director:
“The first volume will go into orbit in late 2024, so it will really lead to a new era where people and countries around the world have more opportunities to live and work in micro-gravity environments.” He added.
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