This Week’s Missions: Axiom-3 Crew and Tianzhou 7 Cargo Space Station Launches
The week of January 10 to January 17 is set to be an exciting one for space missions, with a pair of missions to space stations taking the spotlight. Axiom-3 and Tianzhou 7 are the main highlights of the week, with Axiom-3 marking the first crew launch of 2024 and Tianzhou 7 heading for the Chinese Space Station Tiangong. These launches contribute to what is already a rapid cadence of flights in the new year, following a record-breaking 220 orbital launch attempts in 2023.
Axiom-3, using the Crew Dragon C212 Freedom, is scheduled to carry four private astronauts from five different nations to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission will last approximately two weeks, making it an important step in commercial space travel. The launch is set to take place on January 17 from LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Crew Dragon will dock with the ISS in the early hours of January 19.
The crew for the Axiom-3 mission includes dual US/Spanish citizen Michael Lopez-Alegria as the mission commander. Lopez-Alegria is a veteran of previous Space Shuttle and Crew Dragon missions, bringing valuable experience to the team. Astronaut Walter Villadei of Italy, who has flown to the edge of space aboard the VSS Unity during a suborbital flight, will be going into orbit for the first time. Alper Gezeravci will become the first Turkish person to fly to space, representing an important milestone for Turkey’s space exploration efforts. ESA astronauts Marcus Wandt of Sweden and Andreas Mogensen of Denmark will also be part of the mission, conducting various tasks during their six-month stay aboard the ISS.
Tianzhou 7, on the other hand, will be delivering cargo to the Chinese Space Station. This cargo is essential for supporting the Shenzhou 17 crew currently onboard the station. The launch is scheduled for January 15 from LC-201 at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Island. The Tianzhou spacecraft is larger than other cargo vehicles supplying the ISS, as it is derived from China’s first space station, Tiangong-1.
In addition to these significant missions, there are several other launches scheduled for the week. The Tianzhou 7 cargo spacecraft will be joined by the Gravity-1 rocket, developed by Chinese firm OrienSpace, on its maiden flight. This new medium-lift rocket promises to be the most capable all-solid fueled vehicle in the world. Furthermore, Japan will be launching a military reconnaissance satellite on one of its last H-IIA rockets.
SpaceX is also making its mark with multiple launches this week. Starlink 7-10 and Starlink 6-37 are both scheduled for launch, contributing to SpaceX’s goal of launching 144 Falcon family missions in 2024. Falcon 9 boosters will be used for these launches, with the exact details of booster recovery and landing methods yet to be announced.
The launches taking place this week continue the trend of frequent space missions in 2024. With a record-breaking number of orbital launch attempts in 2023, it is expected that 2024 will surpass this record. These missions represent important advancements in space exploration, commercial space travel, and international collaboration in the field. Each launch brings us closer to a future where space exploration and utilization are more accessible and commonplace.
As we enter this exciting week of launches, we can only anticipate the discoveries and achievements that will come from these missions. From private astronauts reaching the ISS to cargo deliveries for space stations, each launch brings us closer to unlocking the mysteries of space and pushing the boundaries of human exploration.