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During the Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) students art will take a center stage with the Space Art Contest, hosted by Ax-2 pilot John Shoffner.

Shoffner is a life-long space enthusiast. At 8-years-old, he formed a young astronauts club with his friends in his hometown of Middlesboro, Kentucky. While space was his first passion, it didn’t make for a widely accepted career, so he took a more traditional route. Despite finding success in the fiber optic telecommunications industry, John’s wild ambition to become an astronaut never escaped him. In fact, he held onto a painting he created at 10 years old of an astronaut floating in space.

Little did he know that painting would later accompany him to the International Space Station (ISS) and inspire a global art contest. Now, John is asking students ages 5-18, "What would it look like if we lived in space?" With the help of a teacher or guardian, participants are encouraged to submit their most creative drawings, paintings, or poetry to .

Submissions will be categorized by age divisions (5-8, 9-13, 14-18) and by genre (visual art and poetry). Students from around the world will have the chance to showcase vivid color and curiosity as they take us on a journey into space as they envision it. Two representatives from each age division, one art and one poetry, will receive special recognition LIVE from the ISS on Axiom’s Ax-2 mission.

John’s story is one that proves dreams never fade and creativity knows no limits. For more information, visit

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