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Marcus Wandt from Sweden, left, and S\u0142awosz Uzna\u0144ski from Poland, right, during a visit to\u00a0Axiom Space\u2019s Mission Control Center\u00a0in Houston, USA, in 2024.<\/p>\n
A year ago, Marcus became the first of a new generation of European astronauts to arrive to the International Space Station on a commercial spaceflight with Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3). S\u0142awosz is now scheduled to fly to the same destination on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) no earlier than spring 2025.<\/p>\n
Europe is teaming with a commercial space company to show how fast-track, short-duration missions can generate good science, outreach and education for a better life on Earth.<\/p>\n
Marcus and S\u0142awosz first met when they became two of the 17 members of the new ESA astronaut class chosen from over 22 500 applicants from across ESA Member States in November 2022.<\/p>\n
S\u0142awosz saw Marcus launching to space from NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center and then spent the duration of his three-week mission, called Muninn, in the Columbus Control Centre in Germany. Both project astronauts have been assigned the role of mission specialists.<\/p>\n
This was a unique opportunity for S\u0142awosz to experience fully his fellow project astronaut\u2019s mission while working full shifts next to operators on consoles, taking part in conferences with astronauts and observing a similar short-term mission to the one he will take part in, called Ignis.<\/p>\n
Marcus Wandt spent 20 days in orbit conducting microgravity research, technology demonstrations and educational activities with the support of ESA and the Swedish National Space Agency.<\/p>\n
S\u0142awosz Uzna\u0144ski is currently following an intensive training programme to adapt to the challenges of living and working in space at Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX facilities in the USA, as well as at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. The Ignis mission includes an ambitious technological and scientific programme, \u00a0supported by ESA, the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology (MRiT), and the Polish Space Agency (POLSA).<\/p>\n
These short-duration flights are also a first step to prepare for the commercialisation of low Earth orbit in a future without the International Space Station. Using commercial companies to get access to orbit in record time is a very efficient way of running more European science in space.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n