Axiom Space To Fly Saudi Astronauts

Axiom Space has announced the signing of a deal with the Saudi Space Commission to fly Saudi Arabia’s first two astronauts as early as next year. 

The first man and first woman will fly aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon as soon as AX-2 is scheduled to launch in the 2nd quarter of 2023 as 2 of the 4 occupants of that mission have yet to be announced.

“This partnership highlights Axiom Space’s profound commitment to expand human spaceflight opportunities to a larger share of the international community, as well as to multiply scientific and technological development on Earth and in orbit” Michael Suffredini - Chief Executive of Axiom Space

This was just one of many announcements made by Axiom Space during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC). Other Axiom announcements included an agreement with the Turkish Space Agency to fly the first Turkish astronaut, a memorandum of understanding with the Canadian Space Agency for more opportunities for Canada to send crew to ISS. Canada is the smallest partner in the ISS, so only get opportunity to send astronauts to the station every few years. Axiom Space already has agreements with Italy and New Zealand and are in talks with Hungary. 

“This mission is a part of Turkey’s ambitious 10-year space road map, which includes missions to the low-Earth orbit and the moon as well as developing internationally viable satellite systems” - Serdar Hüseyin Yıldırım, President of the Turkish Space Agency