Axiom Space, a Houston-based company that is developing a private space station, has raised $350 million in a funding round led by Saudi Arabia’s Aljazira Capital and Korean healthcare firm Boryung. The round brings Axiom’s total funding to $505 million, making it the second-most funded space startup in 2023, after Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
The funding will be used to support Axiom’s plans to launch the first module of its private space station in 2026. The station will be attached to the International Space Station (ISS) and will eventually become a fully independent commercial space station.
Axiom has also signed a $1.26 billion contract with NASA to develop spacesuits for use on the moon and other space programs. The company has also trained astronauts taken by SpaceX rockets to the ISS.
The funding round comes at a time when there is increasing interest in private space exploration. In recent years, several companies have emerged with plans to develop their own space stations, launch vehicles, and other spacecraft.
The development of a private space station is a significant milestone in the commercialization of space. It could open up new opportunities for research, tourism, and other activities in space.
