LAUNCH OF AX-3 PRIVATE ASTRONAUT MISSION TO ISS, Jan 18, 2023, FL, 4:49 pm ET (webcast begins 2:30 pm ET)

Update, January 18: Axiom confirms the launch is on for 4:49 pm ET and their webcast will begin at 2:30 pm ET.  NASA will join the webcast at 3:45 pm ET.

#Ax3 is go for launch. Launch time is 4:49PM ET. Watch launch broadcast live at 2:30PM ET. pic.twitter.com/akWvM7hytD

— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) January 18, 2024

Update, January 17, 2024, 12:00 pm ET:  The launch has been delayed a day “to complete pre-launch checkouts and data analysis on the vehicle.”  Now January 18, 4:49 pm ET.

Now targeting Thursday, January 18 for launch of the Ax-3 mission to the @space_station. The additional time allows teams to complete pre-launch checkouts and data analysis on the vehicle → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK pic.twitter.com/ZL8664RN7D

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 17, 2024

Update, January 13, 2024:  Axiom says live coverage on its website will begin at 3:15 pm ET.  NASA will join the webcast at 4:15 pm ET.  Axiom and NASA also will hold a pre-launch briefing on January 16 and provide coverage of docking on January 19.  See our separate Calendar entries for more information.

Update, January 4, 2024:  NASA says the launch time is 5:11 pm ET, with docking on January 19 at 5:15 am ET.

🚀 Mission Update: The #Ax3 mission is targeted to liftoff from Launch Complex 39A in Florida no earlier than Jan. 17 at 5:11pm ET. Docking with the @Space_Station is expected for Jan. 19 at ~5:15am ET. NASA is enabling commercial space by supporting private astronaut missions. pic.twitter.com/vildd8PZMM

— NASA’s Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) January 4, 2024

Update, December 21:  The launch has slipped to January 17. Axiom didn’t explain why or give the new time. However, many launches were delayed in December due to a long run of bad weather in Florida and SpaceX is reconfiguring its launch manifest, which could be the reason.

#Ax3 is now targeted to launch to the @Space_Station NET Jan. 17 from LC-39A at @NASAKennedy in #Florida.

— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) December 21, 2023

Original Entry: NASA and Axiom Space are targeting January 9, 2023 at 8:18 pm ET for the launch of Axiom’s third private astronaut flight to the International Space Station, Ax-3.

The four-man crew is composed of Axiom’s own Michael López-Alegría (commander), a former NASA astronaut, and three astronauts from the governments of Italy, Turkiye, and Sweden (through ESA) respectively.  This is categorized as a private astronaut mission even though the three paying customers are sponsored by their governments. All four of the passengers are current or former military aviators.