Former NASA astronaut plans private trip back to space
Former NASA astronaut plans private trip back to space: 'It's a little bit like an addiction'
Peggy Whitson, a NASA astronaut who has spent more time in space than almost any other human on the planet, is desperate to return, even in retirement. Whitson, 61, revealed on Tuesday that she will do just that — but this time, she will fly private.
Whitson will pilot a mission dubbed AX-2 for Axiom, a Houston-based company that specializes in arranging commercial space flights. This could be one of the first privately funded civilian space missions to launch from US soil.
"It's a little bit of an addiction," Whitson said of her desire to return to orbit to CNN Business' Rachel Crane. Despite having spent 665 days in space – nearly two years – Whitson, who first flew into space in 2002, says she hopes this mission will not be her last. She expresses a desire for "many more — more and more and more; as many as I can obtain."
John Shoffner, a businessman, race car driver, and pilot with more than 8,500 flight hours in a variety of aircraft, will accompany Whitson on the mission as a tourist.
Whitson and Shoffner will be transported to the International Space Station via AX-2 via a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The International Space Station is a two-decade-old laboratory orbiting about 200 miles above the Earth's surface.
SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule is identical to the one NASA uses to transport its astronauts to the station. Due to the fact that SpaceX technically owns those vehicles, the company is permitted to sell seats or entire missions to anyone with the means to purchase a multimillion-dollar ticket. All of this is part of the US space industry's strategy to significantly increase private sector activity in space following decades of government dominance.
The financial terms of the AX-2 deal were not disclosed, and it is unknown who will fund the trip, but Whitson stated, "I am not writing a check." Shoffner stated solely that he is "happy to be along for the ride" when questioned.
The US government previously indicated that Crew Dragon seats would cost approximately $55 million each.
Whitson and Shoffner will live on the ISS alongside professional astronauts — including some of Whitson's former colleagues — who will be conducting scientific research on the orbiting laboratory.
Whitson, who set the American record for time spent in space during her 22-year NASA career, said the AX-2 mission will likely be less demanding than previous trips to space on behalf of the US space agency. Nonetheless, Whitson and Shoffner plan to stay busy: Shoffner intends to host livestreams from space to promote math and science education. Additionally, they will fund research projects for a company called 10XGenomics, according to Shoffner.
They'll also receive the same amount of training as they would for a NASA mission, Whitson said.
In Conclusion
It is unknown when AX-2 will launch. To begin, NASA must formally approve Axiom's plans to use the International Space Station, and the space agency has previously stated that it will only allow two privately funded trips to the ISS per year to avoid interfering with active NASA astronauts' work. Axiom has already secured one of these slots for the AX-1 mission, which is scheduled to launch in 2022.
Courses and Certification
Aviation Management Course and Certificate
