N° 41–2023: Marcus Wandt will fly to the International Space Station on third Axiom Space mission

Axiom Space announced the four crew members who will spend up to 14 days on board the Space Station during the Ax-3 mission. Marcus will serve as mission specialist under the command of Michael López-Alegría, Axiom Space’s chief astronaut, representing both USA and Spain as a dual-citizen.

Ax-3 will be the first commercial human spaceflight mission with an ESA-sponsored astronaut. Marcus’s mission, called Muninn, is supported by ESA and the Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA).

“ESA is supporting a new generation of space explorers that use commercial access to space with new ideas, concepts and research. A more versatile access for humans to space will fuel the European economy and knowledge beyond Earth,” says ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration Daniel Neuenschwander.

The other two Ax-3 crew members are Walter Villadei, an Italian Air Force colonel and pilot for the mission, and Mission Specialist Alper Gezeravci from Türkiye. Marcus, Walter, and Alper have extensive flight experience and all served in their nation’s air forces. Marcus worked as a test and fighter pilot for the Swedish Air Force.  

“This crew is shifting the paradigm of how governments and space agencies access and reap the benefits of microgravity. The Axiom-3 mission will be transformational as it positions European nations as pioneers of the emerging commercial space industry,” said Michael, former NASA astronaut and Ax-1 Mission commander. 

“With Marcus, Europe is teaming for the first time with a commercial space company to implement an astronaut flight to the International Space Station. ESA is supporting its Member States to show how fast-track, short-duration missions can generate good science, outreach and education in support of STEM and benefits for life on Earth,” says Frank De Winne, ESA’s ISS Programme Manager.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Ax-3 on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the Space Station from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. Once docked with the orbital laboratory, Marcus will spend up to 14 days conducting microgravity research and educational activities.

The Swedish astronaut is currently following a training programme to live and work in space, and meet the high standards required for human spaceflight. Marcus’s training takes place in Europe, USA, Canada and Japan.

Follow Marcus’ space journey on ESA’s Exploration blog, X and Instagram. 

Images

https://www.esa.int/esearch?q=Marcus+Wandt+images

Muninn mission patch and name:
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/06/Muninn_mission_patch_and_name

Muninn photo album for professionals:
https://photolibrary.esa.int/collection/?sid=lbmaq1zyh

ESA's Photo Library for Professionals:
https://www.esa-photolibrary.com/

Terms and conditions for using ESA images:
www.esa.int/spaceinimages/ESA_Multimedia/Copyright_Notice_Images

For questions or more information related to ESA images, please contact directly spaceinimages@esa.int.

Videos

https://www.esa.int/esearch?q=Marcus+Wandt+videos

B-rolls for media, in English and Swedish:
https://www.esa.int/esatv/Videos/2023/09/Marcus_Wandt_Muninn_mission_training

ESA's Video Library for Professionals:
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos

Terms and conditions for using ESA videos:
https://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Terms_and_Conditions

Social Media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esaastro_marcus/

X: https://twitter.com/astro_marcus

Follow ESA on:

X : @esa @esaspaceflight

Instagram: Europeanspaceagency

Facebook: EuropeanSpaceAgency

YouTube: ESA

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world

ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with four Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int