The Third Private Astronaut Mission (Ax-3) by Axiom Space Launched to the ISS

Japan Manned Space Corporation (hereinafter JAMSS, is a company based in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. President: Teru Ariga) has fueled the flames of launch as it played a pivotal role in the third private space mission, Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), conducted by the renowned Axiom Space Inc., based in the Unted States. In this thrilling endeavor, JAMSS Corporation took charge of providing training for the Ax-3 crew designated for the International Space Station (ISS) and the Japanese Experiment Module, A.K.A. the “Kibo”.

Ax-3, set to embark on its extraordinary journey onboard the Space X Inc.’s Falcon 9 rocket, launched for a spectacular liftoff from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, on January 18 at 6:49 a.m. JST. Ax-3 is expected to conduct a multitude of microgravity research over their 14-days of stay on the ISS. 

JAMSS providing training to Axiom Space is now in its third iteration, following Axiom Mission 1 (launched April 2022) and Axiom Mission 2 (May 2023). Axiom Space’s missions involving private, commercial, and government-sponsored astronauts extend beyond space travel, encompassing multitude of experiments during their stay onboard the ISS. This requires JAMSS to be able to tailor training programs for the mission as required. For the five astronauts participating in Ax-3, including the backup astronauts, JAMSS conducted training on the fundamental functions of the systems inside the “Kibo” module, and on its emergency evacuation procedures.

As one of the international partners of Axiom Space, JAMSS contributed to the success of the missions by providing training to private astronauts in all of Axiom Space’s missions so far. With the anticipated growth of the space travel industry and the advent of the commercial space station era, the demand for commercial training is expected to rise. Drawing upon years of experience in commercial and agency spaceflight training, JAMSS aims to offer effective training to anyone who seeks to endeavor into space.

About Axiom Space
Axiom Space is building for beyond, guided by the vision of a thriving home in space that benefits every human, everywhere. The leading provider of human spaceflight services and developer of human-rated space infrastructure, Axiom Space operates end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while developing its successor, Axiom Station – the world’s first commercial space station in low-Earth orbit, which will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home. For more information about Axiom Space, visit Corporate Site.

John Schoffner announcing the finalists for the space art and poetry contest hosted himself,

while onboard the “Kibo” module. (Watch this video for more.)

About JAMSS Astronaut Instructors
There are approximately 20 astronaut training instructors in JAMSS, providing training to over 280 domestic and international astronauts with various backgrounds. The total number of training sessions conducted so far exceeds 19,000. Presently, our scope of training have extended beyond national agency astronauts, and onto private astronauts as well. All astronauts, including private astronauts, must be well-versed in ISS systems, emergency response procedures, and necessary technical skills required in orbit.

As the ISS is a congregate of multinational modules operated internationally, system and payloads are often relative and unique to each module. Thus, the training for a specific module is always conducted in their country of origins, with instructors specialized for the module.

Comment from the instructor
It is truly an honor to be involved in the training for commercial spaceflight missions that symbolize the dawn of a new era in space. It was inspiring to see the dedication of each crew member as they conduct their training with passion and resilience, while carrying aspirations and purposes they aim to achieve during their mission. Seeing this, I am increasingly excited about the future of civilian manned space activities in Low Earth Orbit in the coming years. We eagerly anticipate the activities that the Ax-3 crew will undertake on the ISS, and what messages they might have for inspiration of others.


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