NASA on Wednesday announced its selection of Axiom to conduct the second private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Ax-2 will be targeted for launch between Fall 2022 and Spring 2023, following on the Feb. 2022 launch of Axiom’s Ax-1 – the first-ever private ISS mission. 
 
In May, Axiom revealed legendary former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and John Shoffner, a pilot, champion GT racer, and active supporter of life science research from Knoxville, Tenn., as the Ax-2 commander and pilot, respectively. The Ax-2 mission concept focuses on scientific research and outreach activities.
 
The award, as we near the launch of Ax-1 and build the ISS’ commercial successor, further demonstrates Axiom’s role as a key partner in the commercialization of low-Earth orbit. Axiom’s broad human spaceflight expertise and the training, professionalism, and productivity of its historic first two crews will set a standard for all future private astronaut missions to follow. We look forward to further expanding the market for private spaceflight to LEO destinations, which Axiom Station is built to serve.