Axiom Space: Leading the Charge in Private Space Missions to the ISS

Axiom Space will send its fifth private mission, Ax-5, to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission aims to enhance the capabilities of scientific research in microgravity and aid in the development of commercial space stations. The launch is scheduled no earlier than January 2027, with the exact date dependent on mission readiness and station schedules. As of now, the crew for Ax-5 has not been announced. NASA requires that the mission commander be a former astronaut with ISS flight experience. The proposed crew must be approved by NASA and other ISS partners.

Axiom Space has successfully executed all four previous private missions to the ISS since 2019. The latest mission, Ax-4, launched in the summer of 2025. For the Ax-5 mission, Axiom Space will collaborate with Voyager Technologies, which will handle the integration of the payload. Voyager Technologies is also a leading partner of Starlab Space, a joint venture developing a commercial space station.

Recently, NASA announced the selection of Axiom Space for the Ax-5 mission while completing the formalities for another private mission order. The request for proposals for these two missions was published in April 2025. Meanwhile, the company Vast has also expressed intentions to compete for future private mission launch opportunities. Private crewed missions enable companies to gain valuable experience in crewed space launches and space station operations, which is essential for the deployment of their own commercial stations, being developed by both Axiom Space and Vast.