NASA and Axiom Space have now signed a mission order covering the flight, which will see a private crew spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory. A firm launch date will be confirmed closer to the mission, taking into account overall traffic at the space station and operational planning requirements.
NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said the latest mission highlighted how commercial spaceflight had become a core part of the agency’s future plans.
“The award of our fifth private astronaut mission shows that commercial space is not a distant promise, but a present reality,” Isaacman said. “By expanding access and strengthening competition in low-Earth orbit, these missions are building the capabilities NASA will rely on as we move onward to the moon, Mars and beyond.”
NASA’s International Space Station program manager, Dana Weigel, said private astronaut missions were helping to unlock new commercial opportunities in orbit.
“The International Space Station is a critical platform for enabling commercial industry in low-Earth orbit,” Weigel said. “These missions allow the station to be used as a proving ground for new markets and technologies, while supporting science, research and outreach that contribute to a growing space economy.”
Under the agreement, Axiom Space will propose four crew members for review and approval by NASA and its international partners. Once confirmed, the astronauts will train alongside NASA, partner agencies and the launch provider ahead of the mission.
Axiom Space president and chief executive Jonathan Cirtain said the company was proud to be selected again by NASA.
“All four previous Axiom missions have expanded the global community of space explorers, diversified scientific research in microgravity and provided valuable insights that are shaping the development of our next-generation Axiom Station,” Cirtain said. “This fifth mission reinforces our commitment to broadening access to space, strengthening international collaboration and enabling research in low-Earth orbit for the benefit of all.”
As part of the mission, Axiom Space will purchase a range of services from NASA, including crew supplies, cargo delivery, storage and other on-orbit resources. NASA will, in turn, purchase from Axiom Space the capability to return scientific samples to Earth, including those that must remain cold during re-entry and recovery.
NASA selected Axiom Space from proposals submitted in response to a research announcement issued in March 2025. The agency is also finalising arrangements for a sixth private astronaut mission to the space station and will release further details in due course.
Private astronaut missions to the International Space Station form part of NASA’s broader strategy to advance science, test new technologies and prepare for future human and robotic exploration of the moon and Mars, including missions under the Artemis program.