Axiom Space Adds Saudi Astronauts to Second Private ISS Mission

pcmag.com:

Axiom Space's second private mission to the International Space Station will include two Saudi astronauts as part of its four-person crew, for what will be the first private space mission to include private astronauts and astronauts representing foreign governments.

Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni, mission specialists and members of the inaugural Saudi national astronaut program(Opens in a new window), were approved by NASA(Opens in a new window) and its international partners this week for Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2). The pair join commander Peggy Whitson and pilot John Shoffner.

"Axiom Space's second private astronaut mission to the International Space Station cements our mission of expanding access to space worldwide and supporting the growth of the low-Earth orbit economy as we build Axiom Station," Axiom Space CEO Michael Suffredini said in a statement.

The team is set to take off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on a SpaceX Dragon ship in spring 2023. Once docked, they will spend 10 days aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting various science, outreach, and commercial activities.

"Private astronaut missions are a key component to enable a successful transition to a model of commercially owned and operated platforms in low-Earth orbit," says Angela Hart, manager of NASA's Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Development Program. "I appreciate the commitment of our International Space Station and commercial partners to help us achieve this future."

This marks the first private space mission to not only include private astronauts and astronauts representing foreign governments, but also be commanded by a woman.

Whitson, Axiom's Director of Human Spaceflight and a former NASA astronaut, will become the first female commander