N° 47–2023: Media advisory for Ax-3 launch with ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt
10 October 2023
In preparation of the upcoming launch of Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), with ESA Project Astronaut Marcus Wandt, Axiom Space will host a virtual media roundtable with fellow crew members on Monday 16 October.
The roundtable will give the Ax-3 crew their first joint opportunity to highlight their experiences leading up the mission, their preparedness, and explain the mission objectives.
Ax-3 will be the first all-European 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).
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Ax-3 crew aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the ISS from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than January 2024. Once docked, the Ax-3 astronauts plan to spend up to 14 days on board implementing a full mission comprised of microgravity research, educational outreach, and commercial activities.
This first all-European crew, from Italy, Türkiye, and Sweden through the European Space Agency (ESA) – include Axiom Space’s Chief Astronaut Michael López-Alegría (dual citizen of the U.S. and Spain), former NASA astronaut and Axiom Mission 1 commander, will serve as commander. Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are European Space Agency (ESA) Project Astronaut, Marcus Wandt of Sweden and Alper Gezeravcı of Türkiye.
AX-3 Crew Media Roundtable
Monday 16 October at 16:00 CEST (09:00 CT)
Participants include:
- Michael López-Alegría, Ax-3 Commander, Axiom Space, U.S. and Spain
- Walter Villadei, Ax-3 Pilot, Italy
- Alper Gezeravcı, Ax-3 Mission Specialist, Türkiye
- Marcus Wandt, Ax-3 Mission Specialist, ESA/Sweden
Media must register to participate and RSVP by 19:00 CEST on Friday October 13. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the virtual roundtable.
Please register here for the Ax-3 media roundtable: https://axiomspace.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uj8-ZE2GSIWh1tVPUY1VTg
More information
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
For further information:
ESA Newsroom and Media Relations Office
Email: media@esa.int
Axiom, Government Operations and Strategic Communications
Alexis DeJarnette