Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who holds a number of space records, will return to the ISS as part of a private mission developed by Axiom Space. Launch is scheduled for mid-2022 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
Peggy A. Whitson, American astronaut and biochemist, is a NASA legend. Having stayed aboard the ISS as part of Expeditions 5 in 2002, 16 in 2008, then Expeditions 50, 51 and 52 in 2016 and 2017, she currently holds the record for cumulative time in space for a American astronaut (665 days).
Peggy A. Whitson is also the woman with the longest cumulative time in space and the holder of the longest female mission (289 days). The astronaut also holds the records for the number of spacewalks (10) and time spent in space (60 hours). Finally, she is the only woman to have commanded the International Space Station (twice).
After a busy career, the astronaut finally retired on June 16, 2018 after more than twenty years in the service of NASA. Never mind, she will return to space, this time aboard a private mission offered by Axiom Space as a commander!
Baptized Ax-2, this mission will take place in mid-2022 after Ax-1, Axiom's first flight to the ISS scheduled for early next year. The latter will be made up of three entrepreneurs accompanied by former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría. The crew is currently undergoing a rigorous training process allowing the three contractors to get accustomed to the G-forces of launching into space.
For this Ax-2 flight, Whitson will be accompanied by John Shoffner, an investor in the life sciences industry and famous GT pilot. Both will be accompanied by two other crew members who have not yet been chosen.
During their time aboard the ISS, which should last eight days , Whitson and Shoffner will conduct research for 10x Genomics, a California-based biotech company that manufactures gene sequencing technology for researchers. In particular, it will be a question of testing single-cell sequencing methods in microgravity.
Recall that the company Axiom Space, based in Houston, aims to rent vessels to other companies to transport its passengers into space. On this Ax-2 mission, the crew will fly in a SpaceX capsule that charges approximately $55 million per mission .
Finally, let's remember that Axiom, founded in 2016 by a former NASA employee, is in the process of building its own private space station modules that it plans to connect to the 'ISS from 2024.
