NASA Awards Axiom Space Fifth Private Mission to ISS by 2027

NASA has formally chosen Axiom Space to execute its fifth private astronaut mission, designated Axiom Mission 5 (Ax-5). This agreement, signed on January 30, 2026, marks a significant milestone in NASA's ongoing initiative to commercialise activities in low Earth orbit. The launch is planned for January 2027 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the spacecraft aimed to remain docked at the International Space Station for a duration of up to 14 days.

Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator, remarked, "The award of our fifth private astronaut mission shows that commercial space is not a distant promise, but a present reality. These missions are essential as we build the capabilities for future exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond." This mission represents a notable shift in NASA's operational framework, as the agency transitions to serving as a customer for commercial missions, thereby allowing it to concentrate on upcoming lunar and Martian expeditions.

Each crew member selected for this mission will undergo training alongside NASA personnel and international associates. Jonathan Cirtain, President and CEO of Axiom Space, expressed gratitude in response to the award, stating, "All four previous missions have expanded the global community of space explorers, diversifying scientific investigations in microgravity, and providing significant insight that benefits the development of our next-generation space station, Axiom Station."

Axiom Space is tasked with managing the entirety of the mission, encompassing astronaut training, launch procurement, and payload integration. The partnership with NASA is intended to ensure rigorous scientific research and commercial outreach during the crew's time aboard the space station. The upcoming mission will see its astronauts involved in extensive studies, focusing on areas such as human health and materials science in a microgravity environment.

Dana Weigel, the manager of NASA’s International Space Station Program, highlighted the importance of private astronaut missions in fostering innovation and experimentation in low Earth orbit, saying, "This platform enables new markets and technologies while facilitating research that contributes to the evolving space economy." Axiom Space aims to position itself as a leader in supporting human exploration and scientific research in orbit.

The Ax-5 mission is viewed as a critical opportunity to further develop the infrastructure necessary for Axiom Station, a future commercial station envisioned to assume the role of the current International Space Station following its projected retirement in 2030. This evolution paves the way for sustained operational capabilities in commercial space travel.

As Axiom Space prepares for this venture, the company plans to submit a list of four proposed crew members to NASA for review and approval. Once finalised, these astronauts will embark on preparation steps in collaboration with NASA and its partners.

Missions such as Ax-5 contribute to advancing scientific understanding and demonstrate new technologies that can be foundational for subsequent human and robotic exploration missions, as part of NASA’s broader objectives for lunar and Martian exploration.

As the commercial space industry continues to expand, Axiom Space's ongoing efforts reflect a shift towards a more collaborative and diversified approach to human presence in space, promoting international partnerships and new scientific opportunities in the field of space exploration.