ORLANDO, Fla. — NASA has chosen Axiom Space for its fifth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS), set for 2027.
On January 30, NASA announced it had signed an agreement with Axiom for the mission, named Ax-5. This mission will last about two weeks, launching no earlier than January 2027, depending on the ISS and preparation activities.
Axiom has not revealed the crew yet, but NASA will approve the proposed team. Importantly, the mission must be led by an astronaut with prior ISS experience.
Since 2019, when NASA welcomed private missions to the ISS, there have been four previous Axiom missions, with the latest, Ax-4, occurring last summer. “These missions have broadened the community of space explorers and enriched scientific research in microgravity,” said Jonathan Cirtain, Axiom Space’s CEO.
A new aspect of Ax-5 is Axiom’s collaboration with Voyager Technologies, which will help with the mission’s payload integration. Dylan Taylor, CEO of Voyager, highlighted that missions like Ax-5 demonstrate the growing commercial space economy, bridging research and human spaceflight.
While Axiom had little competition in the past, the landscape is changing. Another company, Vast, aims to enter the private astronaut mission arena. NASA is actively exploring more options, with a request for proposals issued in April 2025 for additional private missions.
Experts believe these private space missions could offer significant experience for companies as they work towards building their own space stations. Axiom and Vast are both developing their station concepts, while Voyager is the lead on Starlab Space, a joint venture focused on creating a commercial space station.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman remarked, “This fifth mission shows that commercial spaceflight is happening now, not just in the future. By improving access and fostering competition in low Earth orbit, we’re laying the groundwork for future explorations to the moon, Mars, and beyond.”
As we look ahead, the excitement around private astronaut missions reflects a blend of technological advancements and entrepreneurial spirit. Data from recent surveys indicate that public interest in space exploration continues to rise, with over 70% of Americans supporting increased investment in space technologies. With a vibrant mix of public and private players in the field, the future of space exploration is not just promising—it’s already taking shape.
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