History of Axiom Space in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: June 25, 2025

Axiom Space is a privately funded American company headquartered in Houston, Texas, focused on developing space infrastructure. It is involved in commercial space ventures.

2005: Suffredini Became ISS Program Manager

In 2005, Michael T. Suffredini became the program manager for the International Space Station (ISS), a role he held until 2015.

2015: Suffredini's Tenure as ISS Program Manager Ends

In 2015, Michael T. Suffredini's tenure as program manager for the International Space Station (ISS) concluded, after which he co-founded Axiom Space.

2016: Axiom Space Founded

In 2016, Michael T. Suffredini and Kam Ghaffarian founded Axiom Space, with the goal of operating a commercial space station.

2018: Ghaffarian Sells Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies

In 2018, Kam Ghaffarian sold his company, Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc., a NASA contractor, to KBR.

2018: Axiom Station Interior Design

In 2018, the interior of Axiom Station was designed by French architect Philippe Starck, featuring tufted padding, color-changing LEDs, high-speed Wi-Fi, video screens, picture windows, and a glass-walled cupola.

2019: Solicitation Process for Habitable Spacecraft

In 2019, Axiom Space submitted a proposal to NASA, which made Axiom Space the only selected proposal to provide at least one habitable spacecraft to attach to the ISS as part of the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) cislunar initiative. Bigelow Aerospace did not submit a proposal.

January 2020: Axiom Segment Plans

In January 2020, the "Axiom Segment" of the station was planned to include a node module, a research and manufacturing facility, a crew habitat, and a "large-windowed" module for viewing the Earth.

March 2020: Axiom Contract with SpaceX

In March 2020, Axiom Space announced a contract with SpaceX to transport commercial astronauts to the ISS using Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon.

June 2020: NASA Involvement in Tom Cruise Movie on ISS

In June 2020, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine stated that NASA was involved with the filming of a Tom Cruise movie on the ISS, with SpaceX expected to provide the transportation.

2020: NASA Awards Axiom Contract for Habitable Spacecraft

In 2020, NASA awarded Axiom Space a US$140 million contract to provide at least one habitable spacecraft to attach to the ISS as part of the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) cislunar initiative.

February 2021: Axiom Space Employee Count

In February 2021, Axiom Space had 110 employees, with offices in Houston and Los Angeles.

May 2021: Ax-2 Crew Announcement

On 25 May 2021, Axiom Space announced that Peggy Whitson would be the mission commander and John Shoffner would be the mission pilot for the Ax-2 mission. Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi would also be on board as mission specialists.

June 2021: Axiom Deal with SpaceX for Additional Flights

In early June 2021, Axiom Space announced a deal with SpaceX to add three additional crewed flights to the ISS, bringing the total to four.

January 2022: First On-Orbit Science Payload Operation

In January 2022, the Axiom Space Mission Control Center (MCC-A) completed its first on-orbit science payload operation on the ISS and was registered as a payload operations site.

March 2022: Planned Launch to ISS

In March 2022, Axiom Space planned a launch to the ISS via Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon, but the launch eventually took place on April 8, 2022.

April 2022: Axiom Mission 1 Launch and Return

In April 2022, Axiom Space successfully launched its Ax-1 mission to the ISS on April 8 and the crew returned on April 25.

April 2022: Support for Axiom's Ax-1 Mission

In April 2022, Axiom Space's MCC-A supported a record number of on-orbit science payload operations and live on-orbit events for Axiom's Ax-1 mission to ISS, which was the first all-private mission to the ISS.

June 2022: NASA Selects Axiom Space for Spacesuit Development

On 1 June 2022, NASA announced it had selected Axiom Space to develop and provide astronauts with next generation spacesuit and spacewalk systems to first test and later use outside the International Space Station, as well as on the lunar surface for the crewed Artemis missions, and prepare for human missions to Mars.

2022: First Axiom Spaceflight

In 2022, Axiom Space conducted its first spaceflight, Axiom Mission 1, which was the first commercially crewed private spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS).

2022: First Commercial Astronauts Sent into Orbit

In 2022, Axiom Space sent its first commercial astronauts into orbit, marking a significant step in the company's plans for human spaceflight for research, manufacturing, and exploration.

May 2023: Support for Ax-2 Mission

In May 2023, Axiom Space flew their second mission to ISS, Ax-2, supported entirely out of MCC-A by an Axiom Space flight control team of 6-10 flight controllers.

May 2023: Ax-2 Mission Launch

On 21 May 2023, Axiom Space launched the Ax-2 mission, a private crew mission to the ISS, carrying four people.

January 2024: Ax-3 Mission Launch

On 18 January 2024, Axiom Space launched the Ax-3 mission, a private crew mission to the ISS, carrying four people. Michael López-Alegría was the mission commander, Walter Villadei was the mission pilot, and Alper Gezeravcı and Marcus Wandt were mission specialists.

December 2024: Axiom Station Assembly Roadmap

As of December 2024, five modules are manifested on Axiom Station's assembly roadmap.

June 2025: Ax-4 Mission Launch

On 25 June 2025, Axiom Space launched the Ax-4 mission, a private crew mission to the ISS, carrying four people, including veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, a Polish, a Hungarian, and an Indian astronaut.