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Axiom Station
Photo: Axiom Space, Inc. · CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens commons.wikimedia.org)

Axiom Station

by Axiom SpaceUS

ProtoStage 2 of 5

First module, for power and cooling (PPTM), planned to launch to the ISS no earlier than 2027.

Updated 2d agoChecked 25 Sep1 update this week

Milestones

Next · PPTM launch to the ISS
  1. NASA grants Axiom access to an ISS portJan 2020Complete.
  2. Ax-1, first all-private crew to the ISS8 Apr 2022Complete.
  3. Ax-4 mission to the ISS25 Jun 2025Complete.
  4. PPTM launch to the ISSTarget 2027Not yet reached.
  5. PPTM and Hab-1 fly as their own stationTarget 2028Not yet reached.

Most important updates

  • 2d ago
  • 30 Jan 2026
  • 25 Jun 2025
  • 18 Dec 2024
  • 18 Jan 2024

Upcoming

  1. 2027PPTM launch to the ISS (next)
  2. Jan 2027Ax-5 private astronaut mission to the ISS (no earlier than)
  3. 2028PPTM and Hab-1 fly as their own station

Current obstacles

  • Paying for a stationModules cost billions before any income, and demand beyond NASA isn't proven yet.

Physics limits

  • Low orbit drags stations downAt about 400 km the thin air slows a station, which sinks roughly 2 km a month without reboosts, faster when the Sun is active. Fuel for reboosts is a permanent running cost.
  • Weightlessness wears down the bodyIn microgravity astronauts lose about 1 to 1.5% of bone mass per month and muscle weakens, even with daily exercise. It limits how long people can stay.
  • Rocket fairings limit module sizeEach module must fit inside a fairing about 5 m wide, so large volume means many launches and dockings, each adding joints, seals and risk.

How it works

3 parts
Not Axiom's module: an Italian-built shuttle-era cargo module Axiom now owns, a riveted aluminium pressure hull like those Thales Alenia builds for Axiom
Not Axiom's module: an Italian-built shuttle-era cargo module Axiom now owns, a riveted aluminium pressure hull like those Thales Alenia builds for AxiomPhoto: NASA/Ben Smegelsky · Public domain (opens images.nasa.gov)
Modules

Hulls built in Italy

Thales Alenia Space welds the pressurised aluminium hulls; Axiom outfits them in Houston with life support and interiors.

Start

Grow on the ISS first

The first module (power, thermal and a docking port) attaches to the ISS, using its life support while the station grows.

Separate

Then fly free

With a habitat module added, the modules undock and fly as their own station before the ISS retires.

Update log

6 updates

Thu 8 Oct

  • Minor: PressPartnership

Fri 30 Jan

  • Minor: RegulatorCommercial

Wed 25 Jun 2025

  • Major: LivestreamCommercial

Wed 18 Dec 2024

  • Major: PressOther

Thu 18 Jan 2024

  • Minor: BlogCommercial

Sun 21 May 2023

  • Minor: BlogCommercial

About Axiom Space

The team behind Axiom Station

Axiom Space

Private astronaut trips, station, spacesuits

Axiom flies private and government astronauts to the ISS on SpaceX Dragon, is building a private space station that first attaches to the ISS, and makes the spacesuit NASA will use on the Moon.

  • Has flown four private ISS missions (Ax-1 to Ax-4); Ax-4 (June 2025) flew astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary.
  • NASA gave Axiom the Ax-5 mission in Jan 2026, set for no earlier than Jan 2027.
  • Its first station module (PPTM) is planned to reach the ISS no earlier than 2027.

axiomspace.com (opens axiomspace.com)Company profile →

Founded
201610 yrs
Headquarters
United States
Status
Private
Valuation
private
Works in
SpaceflightCrew & stations
Coverage
1 program · 6 updateslatest 2d agochecked 25 Sep
Customers
NASA (opens nasa.gov)
Suppliers
SpaceX
People
Kam Ghaffarian (opens en.wikipedia.org)Co-founder and Executive ChairmanMichael Suffredini (opens en.wikipedia.org)Co-founderPeggy Whitson (opens en.wikipedia.org)VP of Human Spaceflight
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