Axiom, the company behind the successful commercial expedition to the International Space Station (ISS) in April 2022, is set to organize its second mission, Ax-2, in the second quarter of 2023. This mission will also visit the ISS and will involve four astronauts, including Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and the first female ISS commander, who will act as the mission commander.
John Shoffner, an entrepreneur, pilot, and racing driver, will serve as the pilot, while Ali Alqarni, a pilot for the Royal Saudi Air Force with over 2,300 flying hours and a degree in aviation sciences, will be the mission specialist. Rayyanah Barnawi, a Master of Biomedical Sciences specializing in cancer and stem cell research, will also serve as a mission specialist.
Notably, Barnawi’s inclusion in the mission is viewed by experts as an important step in the Saudi Arabian government’s strategy to modernize and reform the kingdom. This strategy aims to diversify the country’s economy and eliminate its ultraconservative image, including improving women’s rights.
In addition to Ax-2, Axiom has received a NASA contract to build commercial modules that will eventually become part of a commercial segment of the ISS. After the ISS’s operation ends, these modules will separate from it and form a separate orbital station.
