Houston Chronicle by Andrea Leinfelder 2/19/2021
Houston-based Axiom Space raised $130 million in Series B funding to help build a commercial space station.
Axiom was selected by NASA in January 2020 to develop a commercial space station module that will initially attach to the existing International Space Station. This first module is set to launch in 2024, and then additional Axiom modules will be added to provide areas for housing, research and manufacturing.
When the International Space Station is retired, this Axiom Station will detach and become its own free-flying station.
The station is expected to cost roughly $2 billion. Axiom is funding this through private investment and revenue from providing full-service human spaceflight missions, as well as its research customers and brand partnerships. In January, the company unveiled its first three private crew members who will each pay $55 million to go to space.
Axiom had previously raised $20 million over three fundraising rounds. Its Series B funding, announced earlier this week, will help Axiom grow its workforce and accelerate construction of its space station. Axiom is building a 14-acre headquarters campus at the spaceport located at Ellington Airport, and it will use this campus to train private astronauts and for production of its Axiom Station.
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https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/space/article/Houston-s-Axiom-Space-raises-130M-to-build-15963301.php
