Axiom Space Mission 2

Peggy Whitson

• Birthday: 02/09/1960
• Role: Commander
• Nationality: United States of America
• First Flight: 06/05/2002
• Last Flight: 05/21/2023

Peggy Annette Whitson is an American biochemistry researcher, retired NASA astronaut, and former NASA Chief Astronaut. Her fi...

John Shoffner

• Birthday: 07/27/1955
• Role: Pilot
• Nationality: United States of America
• First Flight: 05/21/2023
• Last Flight: 05/21/2023

John Shoffner is an American space tourist. He is according to Axiom Space a pilot, champion GT racer, and active supporter o...

Ali AlQarni

• Role: Mission Specialist
• Nationality: Saudi Arabia
• First Flight: 05/21/2023
• Last Flight: 05/21/2023

Ali AlQarni is an astronaut representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and serving as a mission specialist on the Ax-2 mission....

Rayyanah Barnawi

• Role: Mission Specialist
• Nationality: Saudi Arabia
• First Flight: 05/21/2023
• Last Flight: 05/21/2023

Rayyanah Barnawi is an astronaut representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and serving as a mission specialist on the Ax-2 mis...

Mission

Axiom Space Mission 2

• Type: Human Exploration
• Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
• Launch Cost: $52,000,000

This is a Crew Dragon flight for a private company Axiom Space. The mission will carry a professionally trained commander alongside three private astronauts to and from the International Space Station. This crew will stay aboard space station for at least eight days.

Location

Launch Complex 39A

Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

Find the best place to watch the launch from Florida

Launch Complex 39A has witnessed the launch of 199 rockets, including 198 orbital launch attempts. While Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA, has been the site for 257 rocket launches.

The John F. Kennedy Space Center, located on Merritt Island, Florida, is one of NASA's ten field centers. Since 1968, KSC has been NASA's primary launch center of American spaceflight, research, and technology. Launch operations for the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs were carried out from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 and managed by KSC. Located on the east coast of Florida, KSC is adjacent to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS).

Rocket

SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5

Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability.

Learn more about the Falcon 9 Block 5

Core B1080

The Falcon 9 first stage has successfully landed back at the launch site after this flight. Booster B1080 last launched 02/18/2025 and has seen 16 successful launches and landings. Falcon 9 Block 5 booster first used for the Axiom Space Mission 2 Crew Dragon mission.

A sonic boom is likely to occur a few minutes after launch as the booster returns to the launch site. Be prepared for a loud but thrilling experience! Learn more about rocket launch sonic booms

Landing Zone 1 - LZ-1

LZ-1 Pad located at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at the previous LC-13

Return to Launch Site - RTLS

A return to launch site usually means that after stage separation the booster flips and does a burn back towards the launch site, landing near where it initially launched from.

Agency

SpaceX

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.