Axiom Mission 2, set to lift off at 5:37 p.m. EDT (2137 UTC) on Sunday, May 21, is the second all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Ax-2 is launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center aboard SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom spacecraft—it’s the same capsule that carried NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts to the station in 2022. During their eight-day stay aboard the orbiting laboratory, the crew of Ax-2—commander Peggy Whitson, pilot John Shoffner, and mission specialists Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi—will engage in technology demonstrations, student outreach, and scientific experiments ranging from cancer treatments to weather research. Today’s launch coverage is led by Axiom Space, with support from NASA and SpaceX; NASA’s primary mission responsibilities begin during Freedom’s approach to the International Space Station, the start of Ax-2 integrated operations. Learn more about NASA’s role in Ax-2 and how we’re working with our industry partners to open low-Earth orbit to more people, more science, and more commercial opportunities: https://go.nasa.gov/3O54kO1 Thumbnail credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky #Ax2 #NASA #SpaceStation
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Axiom Mission 2 Launches to the International Space Station (Official NASA Broadcast)