Apr 08 | 2022
BGSN Member First To Train Private Space Travellers at NASA Facilities
Engineering and technology contractor KBR has conducted private astronaut training for the upcoming Axiom Mission 1, or Ax-1, the first commercial astronaut mission to the International Space Station.
The months-long training curriculum for the Ax-1 mission’s four-man crew focused on health, safety and daily life onboard the ISS, KBR said.
In 2019, KBR became the first company allowed to train private astronauts at NASA facilities in spaceflight tasks, including operating onboard ISS systems, performing routine operational tasks, maintaining health and performance and responding to emergencies.
The Ax-1 mission, scheduled to launch from NADA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on April 8, will carry out more than 25 experiments while onboard the space station, with a focus on microgravity research. The crew is expected to spend about 10 days in orbit.
“KBR is one of the only companies with the expertise needed in ISS systems and space medical operations to deliver this crucial commercial space training,” said Stuart Bradie, KRB’s CEO and president.
“We have pioneered space travel for more than half a century and are proud to leverage this domain expertise for the next phase of exploration and research.”
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, KBR employs about 28,000 people worldwide, with operations in more than 30 countries focussing on several sectors including aerospace, defence, industrial and intelligence.
The contractor is a member of the Breakbulk Global Shippers Network, an established networking platform for executives operating at the top end of the project supply chain in sectors such as oil and gas, energy and renewables, mining and minerals, construction, forestry, industrial manufacturing and aerospace.
TOP PHOTO: The International Space Station photographed by Expedition 56 crew members from a Soyuz spacecraft after undocking, October 2018. CREDIT: NASA
