Proposal for a Mission to Launch a Team of UK Astronauts into Space

A Houston-based company called Axiom has signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK Space Agency to develop an all-British mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The project is estimated to cost £200m or more, but it will be funded commercially without any contribution from UK taxpayers. Axiom is already in discussions with corporations and institutions interested in providing finance for the mission. The last UK astronaut to travel to the ISS was Tim Peake in 2015. The details of the mission, including the crew selection and destination, are yet to be determined. Axiom has previously organized missions using capsules from Elon Musk's SpaceX company, but the British mission could potentially involve a free-flyer concept where the crew would conduct experiments and outreach while orbiting the Earth before returning to Earth. A seasoned astronaut would be required in the crew if the mission were to visit the ISS. Axiom's mission is part of a broader effort to involve sectors beyond billionaires and government funds in the new space economy in low-Earth orbit. The UK Space Agency has expressed support for this transition to commercial space, and its backing provides further assurance to Axiom's project. The financing and mission details are still being worked out, and the launch date is not clear. Axiom is also working on attaching modules to the ISS to form a commercial station when it is decommissioned. Other European member states, such as Hungary, Sweden, Poland, and Italy, are also pursuing Axiom's alternative for their citizens to travel to space using public funds. The European Space Agency is preparing for the post-ISS period in low-Earth orbit and exploring other opportunities for space exploration beyond 2030.