Axiom Space

Headquartered in Texas, Axiom Space is a provider of human spaceflight services and developer of human-rated space infrastructure, operating end-to-end missions to the International Space Station (ISS) while privately developing its successor - the World’s first commercial space station. The first module of the space station launch was slated for 2H 2026 followed by three additional launches until the end of 2031. Following this, Axiom Station would have the capability to be independent of the ISS and could then separate to become an independent, next-gen space station with upgraded crew quarters, increased payload capacity, and a dedicated manufacturing and research lab module.

The company launched the Ax-1 mission in 1H 2022, a privately funded and operated crewed mission to the ISS. Ax-1 is the first of several planned Axiom missions to the ISS and is important toward the company’s goal of developing a private space station in low-Earth orbit that can serve as a hub for global academic and commercial purposes. In April 2023, Axiom Space introduced The Axiom Space Access Program, which aims to allow nations to develop spaceflight programs while bypassing the need to develop their own infrastructure and other required capabilities. In August 2024, the Ax-4 astronaut mission to the ISS was postponed from its initial scheduled launch in October 2024 to 2025, due to interagency approval processes requirements.

In September 2024, Axiom Space’s CEO resigned from the position following which, the company was reported to have financial difficulties, and had downsized staff and implemented voluntary pay cuts. In October 2024, the company unveiled its Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit, which was made in collaboration with Prada for NASA's Artemis missions.

Key customer and partnerships

The company has several contracts with NASA, including being selected by NASA to begin attaching its own space station modules to the ISS and the signing of orders for private astronaut missions to the ISS. This was followed by the signing of orders for a third private astronaut mission , slated to launch no earlier than November 2023. The company was also selected to build Artemis moonwalking spacesuits carrying a base value of USD 228.5 million (with a potential total value of USD 3.5 billion across the life of the program). In May 2022, Axiom Space signed an MOU with the Italian government to expand the commercial utilization of space.

The company also has partnerships with high-profile organizations such as Airbus, Ansys, Boeing, Confocal Science, Danish Aerospace Company, Intuitive Machines, ISS US National Lab, KBR, Maxar, NASA, Space Systems International Monaco, Space Tango, SpaceX, and Thales Alenia Space. In November 2022, the company partnered with space travel and launch services provider Virgin Galactic, to conduct microgravity research and training missions. During the same month, the company partnered with space-based edge computing startup LEOCloud to deliver space-based cloud services. Building on its previous partnership, in November 2022 Axiom Space signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to advance the Hungarian to Orbit (HUNOR) astronaut program.

In March 2023 , Axiom Space signed a contract with Korean healthcare company Boryung to collaborate on space-based projects in low-earth orbit. This JV will be the main entity for all dealings between Axiom Space and Korean firms/government. The deal is expected to be finalized by May 2023. Further, in April 2023, the company partnered with Los Angeles-based non-profit hospital Cedars-Sinai to explore in-space production of stem cells for regenerative medicine uses on earth. This collaboration was backed by a USD 2 million grant from NASA.

In August 2024, Axiom Space signed an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to fly an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). The company partnered with ​​Burjeel Holdings in September 2024, to conduct medical research and test new technologies in space during the Ax-4 mission.