Italian luxury fashion giant Prada has unveiled a specialized inner-layer garment designed for NASA astronauts heading to the Moon. Developed in collaboration with Axiom Space, the suit features advanced cooling and ventilation technology aimed at supporting astronauts during future lunar missions. The project marks a major step in Prada's ambitions beyond fashion, positioning the brand at the intersection of luxury, innovation, and space exploration. As commercial space travel and lunar missions gain momentum, luxury brands are increasingly looking beyond Earth for new opportunities.

Prada Unveils Moon Mission Garment For NASA Astronauts In Space Industry Push

As of 2025, two space stations are actively orbiting Earth with fully operational life support systems. The International Space Station (ISS) has been continuously inhabited since November 2000, serving as a hub for international scientific research and collaboration. 

How many space stations orbit Earth today? 5 most famous stations that defined space exploration

This transition marks a pivotal moment in space exploration, with several countries and companies stepping up to fill the void left by the ISS.

Next-generation space stations: How many countries are racing to replace the ISS?

This method mirrors the recent return of Sunita Williams aboard Boeing’s Starliner just weeks ago, although 41 years earlier, India’s first astronaut, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, had touched down on solid ground rather than at sea.

Why astronauts trust the ocean? The science behind Shubhanshu Shukla’s splashdown

NASA’s Artemis III astronauts, due to land on the Moon in 2027, will wear these specialised visors co-designed by Oakley and Axiom Space.

Inside NASA’s next lunar visors: Why are they important and how they protect astronauts from deadly glare and dust?

With no access to resupply missions during extended stays, how astronauts access and recycle water has become a triumph of modern engineering, and a crucial step for future deep space missions.

Cleaner than bottled water? The science behind astronauts sipping purified urine in space

Axiom Space signs MOU with Skyroot Aerospace to boost India–US space linksThe partnership will aim to open low-earth orbit to more customersAxiom Space has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace to look at joint projects that can widen access to low-Earth orbit (LEO).The agreement, announced on X by Axiom Space, will let the two companies study ways to combine Skyroot’s launch services with Axiom’s planned commercial space station.&nbsp;As per the Axiom Space website, the deal “reinforces growing cooperation with the Indian space sector”. The firm’s recent Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), launched on 25 June, carried India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) the country’s first human spaceflight in more than 41 years.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“Since the day I visited Skyroot’s facility two years ago, I knew our companies had to work together to define humanity’s future in space. With our shared vision to transform access to space, we look forward to collaborating with <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyrootA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SkyrootA</a> to serve the growing space ecosystem in… <a href="https://t.co/tAev3VLDlg">pic.twitter.com/tAev3VLDlg</a>&mdash; Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) <a href="https://twitter.com/Axiom_Space/status/1937828571860419032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What each company brings to the table</h2>Skyroot Aerospace is India’s leading private launch provider and the first in South Asia to send a privately built rocket past the Kármán line. After its 2022 Vikram-S sub-orbital flight, the company is preparing the Vikram-1 orbital launcher, aimed at affordable, on-demand missions.&nbsp;Axiom Space is building Axiom Station, a commercial successor to the ISS. The US firm plans to add its first habitation module to the ISS in 2026 before operating the station independently later in the decade.&nbsp;“Our vision is greater and fairer access to space,” said Pawan Kumar Chandana, Skyroot co-founder and CEO.Tejpaul Bhatia, Axiom CEO, added: “With our shared ambition, we can serve India’s fast-growing space ecosystem and global customers.”<h2>Possible joint projects</h2>Under the MoU:Integrated launch packages for research payloads headed to Axiom Station.&nbsp;Deploying orbital data-centre nodes using Skyroot rockets.&nbsp;Dedicated missions for Indian and international clients who need microgravity research time in LEO.&nbsp;Both firms say the collaboration could cut costs and speed up timelines for universities, start-ups, and national agencies that lack their own launch or lab facilities.<h2>Why this matters for India</h2>The deal aligns with New Delhi’s push to expand private activity in space after its 2023 policy reforms. It also gives Indian researchers a future path to Axiom’s station once the ISS retires.&nbsp;For Axiom, partnering with an agile launch provider in Asia supports a diverse global supply chain and helps fill its planned orbital laboratory with steady traffic, experts predict.

Axiom Space has signed an MOU with India’s Skyroot Aerospace to explore joint projects for low-earth orbit access. The deal could support launches to Axiom’s future space station, boost India–US space ties, and expand opportunities for research and commercial missions.


Axiom Space signs MOU with Skyroot Aerospace to boost India–US space links The partnership will aim to open low-earth orbit to more customers Axiom Space has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace to look at joint projects that can widen access to low-Earth orbit (LEO). The agreement, announced on X by Axiom Space, will let the two companies study ways to combine Skyroot’s launch services with Axiom’s planned commercial space station. As per the Axiom Space website, the deal “reinforces growing cooperation with the Indian space sector”. The firm’s recent Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), launched on 25 June, carried India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) the country’s first human spaceflight in more than 41 years.

Axiom Space has signed an MOU with India’s Skyroot Aerospace to explore joint projects for low-earth orbit access. The deal could support launches to Axiom’s future space station, boost India–US space ties, and expand opportunities for research and commercial missions.

After Axiom mission 4 success, Axiom Space announced partnership with Skyroot Aerospace to power future missions.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will become the first indian to visit the International Space Station. From the cupola window, he’ll witness Earth’s beauty, 16 sunrises a day, and stunning night views, offering a life-changing space experience for India and beyond.

What is Cupola and how will Shubhanshu Shukla see Earth from space?

The mission was initially scheduled to launch on May 29, 2025, marking India’s return to human spaceflight after 41 years. The first Indian to travel to space was Rakesh Sharma in 1984. 

Launch, postpone, repeat: All about Shubhanshu Shukla’s bumpy road to the ISS

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will travel to the International Space Station in May as a part of Axiom Space’s upcoming Ax-4 mission, making him the first Indian to participate in an international commercial spaceflight to the ISS.

'Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29 and more': Take a look at the aviation legacy of ISRO's Shubhanshu Shukla

'India's cosmic takeover': Axiom appoints Indian-origin CEO as ISRO's Shubhanshu Shukla prepares for historic space visit

A new leadership at Axiom Space

Tejpaul Bhatia’s background  

Bhatia’s achievements at Axiom

Timing for the announcement  

Shubhanshu Shukla: India's ISS pilot

Mission details: Ax-4 launch 

Shukla’s training journey 

A major leadership change was announced by Axiom Space just weeks prior to an Indian astronaut launching on a historic mission. Indian-origin executive Tejpaul Bhatia was appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer.


If all goes per plan, Indian Air Force fighter pilot and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will fly to the International Space Station between May and June this year on an American commercial mission Axiom-4, which will be launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, WION has learned. This comes 41 years after India&rsquo;s first and only astronaut, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, flew on a Soviet mission to the then Salyut-7 space station. Interestingly, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is now known by the Axiom-4 callsign &lsquo;Shuks&rsquo;, was born in 1985, a year after Rakesh Sharma&rsquo;s spaceflight.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m6jmi7sl-2uqrh0n1-nkn9css5">
&ldquo;Collaboration on Human Spaceflight, including sending an <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indian</a> astronaut to the International <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> station in 2024&rdquo; says <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> as he lists out areas of bilateral cooperation between <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a> Travel to <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a> &amp; working there will prep astronauts for Gaganyaan <a href="https://t.co/mJfcX4sKdP">pic.twitter.com/mJfcX4sKdP</a>
&mdash; Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1672074359031361537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
The Axiom-4 mission is a result of deepening Indo-US Space cooperation, which came to the fore during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s state visit to the United States in June 2023. Back then, President Biden had announced Indo-US collaboration on human spaceflight and the mission to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station, marking the highest point in India-US space ties.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/im-coming-out-sunita-williams-conducts-spacewalk-after-being-stuck-in-orbit-for-seven-months-8628341" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'I'm coming out': Sunita Williams conducts spacewalk after being stuck in orbit for seven months</a>
Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the two-week-long Axiom-4 mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project aastronauts Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/maha-kumbh-mela-2025-nasa-astronaut-shares-breathtaking-pics-of-well-lit-kumbh-from-space-station-8656967" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: NASA astronaut shares breathtaking PICS of 'well lit' Kumbh from space station</a>
In July 2024, WION exclusively reported that Indian astronauts would commence their training at NASA&rsquo;s Johnson Space Center, Texas, from early August. NASA&rsquo;s Johnson Center is known as the Hub of Human Spaceflight in the US. Established in 1961, this facility in Houston, Texas, started off as the Manned Spacecraft Centre, the home and Mission Control Center for the US Human Spaceflight programme. In 1973, the facility was renamed in honour of the late President and Texas native Lyndon B Johnson.
<h2>How will Axiom-4 help India&rsquo;s Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight programme?</h2>
Gaganyaan is India&rsquo;s attempt at launching its astronauts to space and returning them safely, using an indigenously developed rocket, spacecraft, and supporting technologies. Gaganyaan was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, and it is the first step in a series of sustained human spaceflight missions that the Indian Space agency ISRO wants to carry out in a phased manner. By the end of this decade, India hopes to put an uncrewed space station in Earth&rsquo;s orbit. By 2035, it would be used as a crewed Indian outpost circling the earth. By 2040, India is targeting a crewed moon landing, a feat that only America has accomplished in 1969, and China hopes to accomplish by the end of this decade.
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The Gaganyaan mission would be carried out by the Indian Space Agency ISRO, with test pilots of the Indian Air Force, serving as the crew members. The four candidates&mdash;Group Captains Prashant Balakrishnan Nair, Shubhanshu Shukla, Ajit Krishnan, and Angad Pratap&mdash;had completed their training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Moscow, in 2021. Since then, they have also undergone several theoretical and practical sessions at ISRO's Human Spaceflight Centre and the Indian Air Force&rsquo;s Institute of Aerospace Medicine. They have also been visiting various ISRO centres, such as ISRO&rsquo;s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, and Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. For the Axiom-4 mission, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prashant Balakrishnan Nair have been training in the US, with the former as the primary candidate and the latter as the backup candidate.
 The Axiom-4 mission is meant to serve as a precursor to India&rsquo;s Gaganyaan, as Shukla&rsquo;s spaceflight would help India gain contemporary spaceflight experience, as well as valuable technological and experiential insights. While serving as ISRO Chief, Dr. S. Somanath had explained to WION that human spaceflight is a highly challenging endeavour and that India only had the limited experience of Rakesh Sharma&rsquo;s flight in 1984.
 He had added that the Indian astronaut (Shukla) flying to the International Space Station would immensely benefit the Gaganyaan programme. Notably, the maiden spaceflight by an Indian was on a Soviet-era Soyuz T-11 spacecraft, and since then the technologies have changed drastically. Presently, in America, SpaceX is the lone entity that has a track record of reliably ferrying astronauts to the space station on their Crew Dragon craft, while Boeing has faced technical troubles with its Starliner craft.
In 2025, India is expected to execute the first of the three uncrewed Gaganyaan missions. After these uncrewed missions and related testing processes are flawlessly accomplished, India hopes to embark on the astronaut-carrying mission, perhaps by 2027.

SCIENCE & TECH | World | India News: Interestingly, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is now known by the Axiom-4 callsign ‘Shuks’, was born in 1985, a year after Rakesh Sharma’s spaceflight.

If all goes per plan, Indian Air Force fighter pilot and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will fly to the International Space Station between May and June this year on an American commercial mission Axiom-4, which will be launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, WION has learned. This comes 41 years after India’s first and only astronaut, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, flew on a Soviet mission to the then Salyut-7 space station. Interestingly, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is now known by the Axiom-4 callsign ‘Shuks’, was born in 1985, a year after Rakesh Sharma’s spaceflight. “Collaboration on Human Spaceflight, including sending an #Indian astronaut to the International #space station in 2024” says @POTUS as he lists out areas of bilateral cooperation between #india & #USA Travel to @Space_Station & working there will prep astronauts for Gaganyaan pic.twitter.com/mJfcX4sKdP — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) June 23, 2023 The Axiom-4 mission is a result of deepening Indo-US Space cooperation, which came to the fore during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the United States in June 2023. Back then, President Biden had announced Indo-US collaboration on human spaceflight and the mission to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station, marking the highest point in India-US space ties. Also read: 'I'm coming out': Sunita Williams conducts spacewalk after being stuck in orbit for seven months Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the two-week-long Axiom-4 mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project aastronauts Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. Also read: Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: NASA astronaut shares breathtaking PICS of 'well lit' Kumbh from space station In July 2024, WION exclusively reported that Indian astronauts would commence their training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Texas, from early August. NASA’s Johnson Center is known as the Hub of Human Spaceflight in the US. Established in 1961, this facility in Houston, Texas, started off as the Manned Spacecraft Centre, the home and Mission Control Center for the US Human Spaceflight programme. In 1973, the facility was renamed in honour of the late President and Texas native Lyndon B Johnson. How will Axiom-4 help India’s Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight programme? Gaganyaan is India’s attempt at launching its astronauts to space and returning them safely, using an indigenously developed rocket, spacecraft, and supporting technologies. Gaganyaan was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, and it is the first step in a series of sustained human spaceflight missions that the Indian Space agency ISRO wants to carry out in a phased manner. By the end of this decade, India hopes to put an uncrewed space station in Earth’s orbit. By 2035, it would be used as a crewed Indian outpost circling the earth. By 2040, India is targeting a crewed moon landing, a feat that only America has accomplished in 1969, and China hopes to accomplish by the end of this decade. Also Read | Watch Live | NASA astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore step out for first spacewalk together The Gaganyaan mission would be carried out by the Indian Space Agency ISRO, with test pilots of the Indian Air Force, serving as the crew members. The four candidates—Group Captains Prashant Balakrishnan Nair, Shubhanshu Shukla, Ajit Krishnan, and Angad Pratap—had completed their training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Moscow, in 2021. Since then, they have also undergone several theoretical and practical sessions at ISRO's Human Spaceflight Centre and the Indian Air Force’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine. They have also been visiting various ISRO centres, such as ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, and Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. For the Axiom-4 mission, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prashant Balakrishnan Nair have been training in the US, with the former as the primary candidate and the latter as the backup candidate. The Axiom-4 mission is meant to serve as a precursor to India’s Gaganyaan, as Shukla’s spaceflight would help India gain contemporary spaceflight experience, as well as valuable technological and experiential insights. While serving as ISRO Chief, Dr. S. Somanath had explained to WION that human spaceflight is a highly challenging endeavour and that India only had the limited experience of Rakesh Sharma’s flight in 1984. He had added that the Indian astronaut (Shukla) flying to the International Space Station would immensely benefit the Gaganyaan programme. Notably, the maiden spaceflight by an Indian was on a Soviet-era Soyuz T-11 spacecraft, and since then the technologies have changed drastically. Presently, in America, SpaceX is the lone entity that has a track record of reliably ferrying astronauts to the space station on their Crew Dragon craft, while Boeing has faced technical troubles with its Starliner craft. In 2025, India is expected to execute the first of the three uncrewed Gaganyaan missions. After these uncrewed missions and related testing processes are flawlessly accomplished, India hopes to embark on the astronaut-carrying mission, perhaps by 2027.

Exclusive: Indian astronaut ‘Shuks’ to fly to space in May 2025

Private space company Axiom Space teamed up with the Italian luxury brand, Prada to provide the surface suits and spacewalk systems for NASA's Artemis 3 mission, which is planned for September 2026.

'Prada' And 'Axiom Space' Unveils Spacesuit For Artemis 3 Mission

Turkey's first astronaut Alper Gezeravci and three other astronauts representing Europe were launched on a flight to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday (Jan 18).

Turkey's first astronaut Alper Gezeravci and three other astronauts representing Europe were launched on a flight to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday (Jan 18). According to a report by the news agency Reuters on Friday, a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying the Axiom quartet lifted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Crew Dragon was expected to reach the International Space Station (ISS) early on Saturday morning and dock with the outpost orbiting some 400 kilometres above Earth and currently occupied by seven regular crew members. Responding to congratulations from mission control, flight commander Michael López-Alegría radioed back from the Crew Dragon, "As I was saying, it's a team sport. Thank you, guys." Also read: Astrobotic's Peregrine lander burns up after failing Moon mission This mission, called Ax-3, was arranged by Texas-based startup Axiom Space. It was the third such flight organised by Axiom over the past two years as the company builds on its business of putting astronauts sponsored by foreign governments and private enterprises into Earth's orbit. Who is Alper Gezeravci? Gezeravci, 44, is a Turkish Air Force veteran and holds the rank of a colonel. Turkey was poised to enter the exclusive but expanding club of ISS-guest countries by sending Gezeravci on his nation's debut human spaceflight as an Ax-3 mission specialist. His three other colleagues aboard the flight are Italian Air Force Colonel Walter Villadei, 49, Ax-3's designated pilot; Swedish aviator Marcus Wandt, 43, another mission specialist; and López-Alegría, 65, a retired NASA astronaut and dual citizen of Spain and the United States. Photo: Walter Villadei of Italy, Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravci of Turkey, and ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Marcus Wandt of Sweden in Cape Canaveral The crew will conduct over 30 scientific experiments, many of them focused on the effects of spaceflight on human health and disease, Reuters reported. If all goes smoothly, the four astronauts will be welcomed aboard ISS on Saturday by the seven members of the station's current regular crew - two Americans from NASA, one astronaut each from Japan and Denmark, and three Russian cosmonauts. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkey’s first astronaut launched on flight to International Space Station

Axiom-2 crew returns home after successfully concluding space mission

Saudi Arabia is planning to launch two astronauts to the International Space Station aboard a space capsule from Elon Musk's SpaceX, becoming the latest Gulf nation to strengthen ties with private U.S. space companies, according to three people familiar with the arrangement.

The sources, speaking anonymously to discuss the mission's crew before its formal announcement, said the deal was signed privately earlier this year with Houston's Axiom Space, which arranges and manages private missions to space on U.S. spacecraft for researchers and tourists.

Under the deal, two Saudi astronauts will ride SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule to the space station for a roughly weeklong stay early next year, the sources said. The Saudis would be the first from their country to go into space aboard a private spacecraft.

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Axiom had no immediate comment. Officials with the Saudi Space Commission, Riyadh's space agency founded in 2018, were not immediately available to comment.

Private U.S. companies have increasingly played a key role in sending astronauts to the space station as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. space agency now focusing heavily on returning humans to the moon, looks to commercialize the United States' decades-old human spaceflight presence in low-Earth orbit.

The deal would mark the latest that puts companies like Axiom in a unique role of diplomacy long dominated by government agencies like NASA. The space station is a football field-sized laboratory some 250 miles (400 km) above Earth that has housed international crews of astronauts for over 20 years.

The Saudi astronauts will join two previously announced Americans, retired NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and race car driver and investor John Shoffner, the sources said. The mission, called Ax-2, will be the second spaceflight arranged by Axiom.

The private astronauts aboard Ax-2 have yet to be approved by a NASA-chaired panel of the space station's participating stakeholders and countries, such as Russia, Canada, Japan and the European Space Agency, a U.S. official said. The official added that the mission is likely to receive approval.

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For Axiom and other space companies, cutting deals with foreign governments is seen as vital to sustaining a business centered on putting people in space. Putting people into space is a luxury for wealthy adventure seekers and a source of national prestige and inspiration for aspiring space powers like Saudi Arabia.

Axiom launched its first private mission to the space station in April, sending a four-man crew to the space station aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule that included a Canadian investor and an Israeli businessman.

And Axiom on Monday announced a deal with Turkey to launch the country's first two astronauts into space in late 2023. That will likely be for mission Ax-3, according to a person familiar with the flight.

Axiom's astronaut flight business is crucial experience for the company's broader goals of deploying its own private space station by mid-decade. It plans to first attach modules to the ISS before splitting off into a fully private structure once the existing international laboratory is retired around 2030.

The value of Axiom's Saudi agreement was not clear. Each Crew Dragon seat on Axiom's first mission sold for $55 million each.

&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia is planning to launch two astronauts to the International Space Station aboard a space capsule from Elon Musk's SpaceX, becoming the latest Gulf nation to strengthen ties with private U.

Saudi Arabia is planning to launch two astronauts to the International Space Station aboard a space capsule from Elon Musk's SpaceX, becoming the latest Gulf nation to strengthen ties with private U.S. space companies, according to three people familiar with the arrangement. The sources, speaking anonymously to discuss the mission's crew before its formal announcement, said the deal was signed privately earlier this year with Houston's Axiom Space, which arranges and manages private missions to space on U.S. spacecraft for researchers and tourists. Under the deal, two Saudi astronauts will ride SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule to the space station for a roughly weeklong stay early next year, the sources said. The Saudis would be the first from their country to go into space aboard a private spacecraft. Also read | Ukraine's Western allies condemn Russian referendum plans for occupied regions Axiom had no immediate comment. Officials with the Saudi Space Commission, Riyadh's space agency founded in 2018, were not immediately available to comment. Private U.S. companies have increasingly played a key role in sending astronauts to the space station as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. space agency now focusing heavily on returning humans to the moon, looks to commercialize the United States' decades-old human spaceflight presence in low-Earth orbit. The deal would mark the latest that puts companies like Axiom in a unique role of diplomacy long dominated by government agencies like NASA. The space station is a football field-sized laboratory some 250 miles (400 km) above Earth that has housed international crews of astronauts for over 20 years. The Saudi astronauts will join two previously announced Americans, retired NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and race car driver and investor John Shoffner, the sources said. The mission, called Ax-2, will be the second spaceflight arranged by Axiom. The private astronauts aboard Ax-2 have yet to be approved by a NASA-chaired panel of the space station's participating stakeholders and countries, such as Russia, Canada, Japan and the European Space Agency, a U.S. official said. The official added that the mission is likely to receive approval. Also read | US & Canadian warships sail through Taiwan Strait, second time in three weeks For Axiom and other space companies, cutting deals with foreign governments is seen as vital to sustaining a business centered on putting people in space. Putting people into space is a luxury for wealthy adventure seekers and a source of national prestige and inspiration for aspiring space powers like Saudi Arabia. Axiom launched its first private mission to the space station in April, sending a four-man crew to the space station aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule that included a Canadian investor and an Israeli businessman. And Axiom on Monday announced a deal with Turkey to launch the country's first two astronauts into space in late 2023. That will likely be for mission Ax-3, according to a person familiar with the flight. Axiom's astronaut flight business is crucial experience for the company's broader goals of deploying its own private space station by mid-decade. It plans to first attach modules to the ISS before splitting off into a fully private structure once the existing international laboratory is retired around 2030. The value of Axiom's Saudi agreement was not clear. Each Crew Dragon seat on Axiom's first mission sold for $55 million each.

Saudi Arabia buys pair of SpaceX astronaut seats from Axiom - Sources

First all-private astronaut team returned to Earth from Space. The team returned from ISS and touched down in the Atlantic. The crew capsule carrying four men was in space for two weeks. It took nearly 16 hours for the crew capsule to descent from orbit.

What’s special about these astronauts returning to earth from space?

'Space tourists': First-ever all private astronaut team splashes down safely after a historic trip to ISS

NASA awarded hundreds of millions of dollars to three companies to develop commercial space stations that will eventually replace the International Space Station, which is set to retire around the end of this decade.

For the development of their orbital outposts, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, the aerospace company Nanoracks and Northrop Grumman won contracts worth $130 million, $160 million and $125.6 million, respectively.

An earlier $140 million contract was awarded to a fourth company, Axiom Space.

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In order to cut costs and focus on its ambitious goals, the US space agency has increasingly turned to private industry to develop hardware it once made itself. NASA's goals include building habitats on the Moon and preparing for a crewed mission to Mars.

"We are partnering with US companies to develop the space destinations where people can visit, live, and work, enabling NASA to continue forging a path in space for the benefit of humanity while fostering commercial activity in space," said NASA chief Bill Nelson in a statement.

"These awards will help ensure the United States has a continuous human presence" in low Earth orbit, said Phil McAlister, NASA's director of commercial spaceflight. "A gap would be bad."

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The companies have not given an estimate of how much the space stations will cost to develop, but they have unveiled their plans.

However, McCalister said NASA would not contribute more than 40 per cent of the funding to the projects.

"The sum invested today by NASA to launch this program is small compared to the money that will be required," said Brent Sherwood, Blue Origin's senior vice president of advanced development programs.

As part of a collaboration with Sierra Space, Blue Origin is creating Orbital Reef, which will eventually house 10 people. Microgravity research and manufacturing will be carried out in the "mixed-use business park in space".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/jeff-bezos-firm-blue-origin-unveils-plan-to-build-commercial-space-station-424048">Jeff Bezos firm Blue Origin unveils plan to build commercial space station</a>

Developed with Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin, Nanoracks' space station will be called "Starlab."

Nanoracks aims to be operational in 2027 and will include a biology lab, plant habitation lab, a physical science and materials research lab, and an open workbench area.

Northrop Grumman, which developed a cargo delivery system called Cygnus, currently supports the International Space Station by making deliveries. It plans to build its own station module by module. This will ensure that science, tourism, and industrial experimentation will all be included.

Watch |&nbsp;Blue Origin unveils plans for Orbital Reef, a 'business park' in outer space

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/blue-origin-unveils-plans-for-orbital-reef-a-business-park-in-outer-space-424062/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Twenty-one years have passed since the first long-term residents were welcomed to the space station. It has become a symbol of international cooperation, particularly between the US and Russia.

As of now, the International Space Station is rated safe until 2028, and new administrator Nelson has stated that he hopes it will last until 2030, by which time NASA wants the commercial sector to take the lead and replace it.

NASA awarded hundreds of millions of dollars to three companies to develop commercial space stations that will eventually replace the International Space Station, which is set to retire around the end of this decade.

NASA awarded hundreds of millions of dollars to three companies to develop commercial space stations that will eventually replace the International Space Station, which is set to retire around the end of this decade. For the development of their orbital outposts, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, the aerospace company Nanoracks and Northrop Grumman won contracts worth $130 million, $160 million and $125.6 million, respectively. An earlier $140 million contract was awarded to a fourth company, Axiom Space. Also read | All aboard! These companies are building spacecraft to send people to space In order to cut costs and focus on its ambitious goals, the US space agency has increasingly turned to private industry to develop hardware it once made itself. NASA's goals include building habitats on the Moon and preparing for a crewed mission to Mars. "We are partnering with US companies to develop the space destinations where people can visit, live, and work, enabling NASA to continue forging a path in space for the benefit of humanity while fostering commercial activity in space," said NASA chief Bill Nelson in a statement. "These awards will help ensure the United States has a continuous human presence" in low Earth orbit, said Phil McAlister, NASA's director of commercial spaceflight. "A gap would be bad." Also read | Want to become a space tourist? Here is all you need to do The companies have not given an estimate of how much the space stations will cost to develop, but they have unveiled their plans. However, McCalister said NASA would not contribute more than 40 per cent of the funding to the projects. "The sum invested today by NASA to launch this program is small compared to the money that will be required," said Brent Sherwood, Blue Origin's senior vice president of advanced development programs. As part of a collaboration with Sierra Space, Blue Origin is creating Orbital Reef, which will eventually house 10 people. Microgravity research and manufacturing will be carried out in the "mixed-use business park in space". Also read | Jeff Bezos firm Blue Origin unveils plan to build commercial space station Developed with Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin, Nanoracks' space station will be called "Starlab." Nanoracks aims to be operational in 2027 and will include a biology lab, plant habitation lab, a physical science and materials research lab, and an open workbench area. Northrop Grumman, which developed a cargo delivery system called Cygnus, currently supports the International Space Station by making deliveries. It plans to build its own station module by module. This will ensure that science, tourism, and industrial experimentation will all be included. Watch | Blue Origin unveils plans for Orbital Reef, a 'business park' in outer space Twenty-one years have passed since the first long-term residents were welcomed to the space station. It has become a symbol of international cooperation, particularly between the US and Russia. As of now, the International Space Station is rated safe until 2028, and new administrator Nelson has stated that he hopes it will last until 2030, by which time NASA wants the commercial sector to take the lead and replace it.

Want to space travel? NASA awards $415.6 million for new space hubs where people can visit, live, work

Training of the crew for the first entirely private trip to the International&nbsp;Space&nbsp;Station (ISS) is to begin soon,&nbsp;Axiom&nbsp;Space, the company behind the flight, said on Monday at a joint press conference with&nbsp;NASA.

Four astronauts are to be launched to the ISS in late January aboard a rocket built by another&nbsp;space&nbsp;company, Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="All aboard! These companies are building spacecraft to send people to space">All aboard! These companies are building spacecraft to send people to space</a>

Only one of the four, NASA&nbsp;veteran Michael Lopez-Alegria, has been in&nbsp;space&nbsp;before.

The other three are businessmen, Larry Conner, an American, Mark Pathy, a Canadian, and Eytan Stibbe, an Israeli.

The mission dubbed Ax-1 is to last around 10 days, said&nbsp;Axiom&nbsp;Space&nbsp;president and CEO Michael Suffredini.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="SpaceX capsule departs International Space Station with 4 astronauts, heads home">SpaceX capsule departs International Space Station with 4 astronauts, heads home</a>

The astronauts will work and live in the American section of the&nbsp;space&nbsp;station and plan to conduct a number of scientific experiments while in orbit.

"We'll be starting what I would call serious training next week,"&nbsp;said Lopez-Alegria, the Ax-1 commander.

"From there the pace will pick up, and we'll all be immersed essentially full time in ISS systems and Crew Dragon training starting in the fall."

He said the four men had only been together a 'handful of times'&nbsp;because of the Covid-19 pandemic but would take a 'bonding'&nbsp;camping trip in Alaska in July.

Lopez-Alegria said he will start full-time training in August and Connor, the mission pilot, will begin in September.

Starting in October, all four will begin Houston-based training on the ISS systems and SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule.

Axiom&nbsp;Space&nbsp;considers the mission a first step in its plan to build the first commercial&nbsp;space&nbsp;station.

Asked about the cost of Ax-1, Suffredini said we 'generally don't talk about specific pricing.'

'It's been widely reported -- numbers in the tens of millions -- which I wouldn't argue with,'&nbsp;he said.

Phil McAlister, director of&nbsp;NASA's commercial spaceflight development, said the mission is a "renaissance in US human spaceflight."

'This is a real inflection point,'&nbsp;he said.

The US&nbsp;space&nbsp;agency is aiming for two such private missions a year.

'We are seeing a lot of interest in private astronaut missions,'&nbsp;said Angela Hart,&nbsp;NASA's manager of commercial low-Earth orbit development.

'At this point the demand exceeds what we actually believe the opportunities on station will be,'&nbsp;Hart said.

Seven 'space&nbsp;tourists'&nbsp;flew to the ISS between 2001 and 2009 aboard Russian Soyuz rockets.

Training of the crew for the first entirely private trip to the International Space Station (ISS) is to begin soon, Axiom Space, the company behind the flight, said on Monday at a joint press conference with NASA.

Training of the crew for the first entirely private trip to the International Space Station (ISS) is to begin soon, Axiom Space, the company behind the flight, said on Monday at a joint press conference with NASA. Four astronauts are to be launched to the ISS in late January aboard a rocket built by another space company, Elon Musk's SpaceX. Also read | All aboard! These companies are building spacecraft to send people to space Only one of the four, NASA veteran Michael Lopez-Alegria, has been in space before. The other three are businessmen, Larry Conner, an American, Mark Pathy, a Canadian, and Eytan Stibbe, an Israeli. The mission dubbed Ax-1 is to last around 10 days, said Axiom Space president and CEO Michael Suffredini. Also read | SpaceX capsule departs International Space Station with 4 astronauts, heads home The astronauts will work and live in the American section of the space station and plan to conduct a number of scientific experiments while in orbit. "We'll be starting what I would call serious training next week," said Lopez-Alegria, the Ax-1 commander. "From there the pace will pick up, and we'll all be immersed essentially full time in ISS systems and Crew Dragon training starting in the fall." He said the four men had only been together a 'handful of times' because of the Covid-19 pandemic but would take a 'bonding' camping trip in Alaska in July. Lopez-Alegria said he will start full-time training in August and Connor, the mission pilot, will begin in September. Starting in October, all four will begin Houston-based training on the ISS systems and SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule. Axiom Space considers the mission a first step in its plan to build the first commercial space station. Asked about the cost of Ax-1, Suffredini said we 'generally don't talk about specific pricing.' 'It's been widely reported -- numbers in the tens of millions -- which I wouldn't argue with,' he said. Phil McAlister, director of NASA's commercial spaceflight development, said the mission is a "renaissance in US human spaceflight." 'This is a real inflection point,' he said. The US space agency is aiming for two such private missions a year. 'We are seeing a lot of interest in private astronaut missions,' said Angela Hart, NASA's manager of commercial low-Earth orbit development. 'At this point the demand exceeds what we actually believe the opportunities on station will be,' Hart said. Seven 'space tourists' flew to the ISS between 2001 and 2009 aboard Russian Soyuz rockets.

Crew training to start soon for first private trip to International Space Station

Glimpse of NASA's private 'space home' unveiled

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