“UK and Axiom plan commercial space mission, seeking funding and mission details.”
Four UK astronauts may soon embark on an all-British mission into space, thanks to an American company, Axiom, that specializes in organizing visits to the International Space Station (ISS). Axiom has signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK Space Agency to develop this project. Although the estimated cost is around £200 million or more, the intention is to secure commercial funding, with no reliance on UK taxpayers.
Tim Peake, the last UK individual to go into orbit, expressed his excitement about this unique opportunity for a “national mission” conducted on a commercial basis. Currently, key details such as the crew selection and mission destination are undecided. Axiom has previously used SpaceX capsules for missions to the ISS, but the British mission might also involve free-flying, where the crew circles the Earth in their capsule, conducting experiments and outreach before returning to Earth.
If the mission heads to the ISS, NASA would likely require the inclusion of a seasoned astronaut, a criterion that only a few UK passport-holders, such as Tim Peake, would meet. Axiom, founded by a former NASA official, has conducted two missions and is preparing for a third.
This endeavor represents a shift in the space industry towards a more sustainable commercial space economy, with an emphasis on involving sectors beyond billionaires and government funding. Axiom’s collaboration with the UK Space Agency adds further assurance to the project.
The launch date remains uncertain pending funding and mission planning. Moreover, if the mission involves the ISS, NASA has limited slots available for commercial visitors, with steep costs exceeding £100,000 per night. Axiom also plans to attach modules to the ISS that will eventually become a separate commercial station when the current orbiting lab is decommissioned.
This project’s hardware is being manufactured in Italy by Thales Alenia Space, known for building much of the habitable areas on the current ISS. Axiom has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the European Space Agency (ESA), allowing European member states to consider sending their citizens into orbit, funded by public money, in contrast to the UK’s commercial approach.
As we approach the post-ISS era in low-Earth orbit, various nations, including Hungary, Sweden, Poland, and Italy, are exploring the Axiom alternative, anticipating the need to continue human exploration beyond the ISS’s extended commitment until 2030.
