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�����о��� will hold a virtual press conference with the astronauts of Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) to highlight their mission readiness and objectives. During the event, the Ax-3 crew will be in quarantine in Florida making final preparations ahead of the launch on Jan. 17 at 5:11 p.m. ET.  

Ax-3 will be the first all-European commercial astronaut mission to launch to the International Space Station (ISS)—redefining the pathway to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and helping chart a course toward Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station.

As part of Ax-3, Türkiye is sending its first astronaut to space in a larger effort to expand the nation’s space exploration capabilities and establish a national human spaceflight program. Ax-3 will also be the first commercial spaceflight mission for an ESA-sponsored astronaut. For Italy, the Ax-3 mission represents a whole-of-country effort to expand its access to space for the purposes of research, development, and innovation.

The Ax-3 crewmembers are Commander Michael López-Alegría of the U.S. and Spain, Pilot Walter Villadei of the Italian Air Force, and Mission Specialists Alper Gezeravcı of Türkiye and Marcus Wandt of Sweden and the European Space Agency (ESA).

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Ax-3 crew aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the ISS from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew will dock to the space station at approximately 5:15 a.m. ET on Jan. 19.  

AX-3 COUNTDOWN TO LAUNCH PRESS CONFERENCE
Thursday, Jan. 11 at 10AM CT/11AM ET

Participants include:

• Michael López-Alegría, Ax-3 Commander, �����о���, U.S. and Spain
• Walter Villadei, Ax-3 Pilot, Italy
• Alper Gezeravcı, Ax-3 Mission Specialist, Türkiye
• Marcus Wandt, Ax-3 Mission Specialist, ESA/Sweden

This press conference will be held virtually. Media must register to participate and RSVP by noon on Jan. 10.

Register here for the crew countdown to launch press conference:

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join.

The next mission milestone will be the Launch Readiness Review (LRR) on Tuesday, Jan. 16 with leaders from �������, NASA, and SpaceX. During the LRR, participants will discuss the Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft, mission hardware, and readiness for launch. Approximately one hour after the conclusion of that meeting, the team will hold a pre-launch media teleconference to answer any final questions from the press prior to the mission. More details to follow when available.

Follow along for mission updates with #Ax3 on (formerly Twitter), , and , and on our website.

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