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Commercialization

Axiom Space Vapor Ware

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
June 14, 2018
Axiom Space Vapor Ware

Axiom Space offers space station vacations starting in 2020, for $55 million, Geekwire
“How much would you pay for a 10-day stay in low Earth orbit? Houston-based Axiom Space has set a $55 million price point for trips that it says could begin as early as 2020. If you want to fly that soon, Axiom Space is offering accommodations on the International Space Station. But the company, headed by a former NASA space station program manager, says it’ll eventually have its own place in space. “It is an honor to continue the work that NASA and its partners have begun, to bring awareness to the profound benefits of human space exploration and to involve more countries and private citizens in these endeavors,” Axiom Space CEO and President Michael Suffredini said today in a news release.”
Keith’s note: Where is the module where these space tourists will have their space vacation? Who will launch it? Where is the investment money needed to make this happen? Etc.

NASA Watch founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.

11 responses to “Axiom Space Vapor Ware”

  1. SpaceHoosier says:
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    It appears that Mr. Suffredini’s horse is looking at the back-end of a cart.

  2. Eric says:
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    First of all it looks like they’ve consulted with Elon Musk on how to come up with a timeline. Secondly, I question how many people would be willing to spend $55 million for a 10 day vacation in space. I hope tourism isn’t a big part of their business plan. I don’t see that big a list of potential customers out there at that price.

    • james w barnard says:
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      I’d certainly be willing to spend $55M for a 10-day excursion in space…IF I had the money! Also, if I could pass the physical. Anybody out there want to GIVE me a 78th or later birthday present?
      Still, I’d bet there are people out there that will do it.
      Ad LEO! Ad Luna! Ad Ares! AD ASTRA!

    • Michael Spencer says:
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      Does anyone know of a parallel between “space vacations” and the nascent airplane industry?

      Here’s what got me thinking about it: that $55M price is sure to fall, and likely rapidly, too. Indeed it is quite likely that the $55M vacation in 2020 (say) could become a $5M expense in 2030, and by 2040 perhaps $5M (all of these numbers simply illustrating the point that the cost is likely to fall precipitously, and quickly).

      A vacation taken at age 40 would look awfully silly viewed from age 60; within the span of a single life. It’s the reverse of what we experienced with inflation: does anyone remember how quickly costs went up during the Carter years?

  3. Mark says:
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    Axiom is shaping up like 90s Kistler…but without the money. (IE, “great leadership team” but lacking in everything else).

  4. Jeff2Space says:
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    This sounds a lot like what the Russians used to do with vacant Soyuz seats on crew rotation flights. The only way I see this working for Axiom is for them to buy vacant seats on already scheduled Soyuz, Dragon 2, or Starliner flights to ISS. At $55 million a seat, I doubt Axiom could sell enough seats to afford to have a dedicated flight to ISS.

  5. TheBrett says:
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    I perked up a bit when they said “stays on the ISS”, thinking “Oh, maybe they’ll just negotiate with NASA and SpaceX to fly people up whenever a new capsule is finally man-rated”. But then nope, it’s a custom hab module with no apparent source of funding in sight.

    A good rule of thumb when it comes to space startups is that unless they’re funded through their first test flight by the time they make their big media press release about their ambitions, you shouldn’t take them seriously. The history of commercial space is full of startups with big dreams and no money, all hoping without success to “fake it till they make it” with big press releases.

    • Mark says:
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      You could rent out berths in the Hab on a monthly rate for longer stay astronauts or per diem for short stay space tourists. One thing ISS is low on is habitability.

      Though the issue with this is that you would have to generate enough revenue per month to pay for the up-mass for the “board” part of “room-and-board”. And commercial cargo still costs way too much. Second issue would be having a draw for extra people/organizations/governments to want to pay for commercial crew tickets and then pay to stay for months. And while ISS is somewhat of a draw, it doesn’t have anything that the Chinese won’t be able to have once they start building their own station in a few years. (Around the time Axiom would be providing services, if they make it that far).

  6. Terry Stetler says:
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    Crunchbase reports they were founded in 2015, and since have attracted $3m in funding. Lots of pretty pictures.

    Not looking good…..

    https://www.crunchbase.com/