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September 13, 2023

Axiom 3 Crew-Members Approved

Cadence of Private Astronaut Missions to ISS Remains Steady

NASA and its international partners have approved the personnel by which Axiom Space’s third private astronaut mission—Axiom Space 3 (Ax-3)—to the International Space Station will be crewed. The mission, which will launch from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center no earlier than January 2024, will be commanded by Axiom Space chief astronaut and former NASA astronaut Micheal López-Alegría and flown by Italian Air Force Colonel and mission pilot Walter Villadei. The four-man crew will be rounded out by mission specialists Alper Gezeravci of Turkey and ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Marcus Wandt of Sweden.

59 Winners to Be Announced Later This Year

The Fédération Aéronautique International has begun awarding a new medal to 3-time world championship winners in aero and spacemodeling - the CIAM Legends medal. The award goes to those individuals who have won the FAI World Championship at least 3 times, without a need for their victories to be consecutive wins. Groups are not eligible for the CIAM Legends Medal, and the wins can be drawn from any class in the ‘aeromodeling’ and ‘spacemodeling’ categories. Owing to its introduction this year, the FIA will be handing out the CIAM Legends medal to 59 winners, with the majority of them being drawn from American pilots.

Renowned Naval Aviator and NASA Astronaut Honored

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) will present 2023’s prestigious Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy to retired U.S. Navy Captain and NASA astronaut Robert “Crip” Crippen, who is to be recognized for his devotion to public service and dedication to both humankind’s future and the advancement of American aerospace as manifest in his lifetime achievements as an aviator, astronaut, and leader.