Flight suit worn on Ax-1, first commercial ISS mission, on display at KSC Visitor Complex

Astronaut Michael López-Alegría unveiled a new exhibit at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex this week that celebrates private spaceflight, noting that his experience with Axiom Space turned him from a skeptic into a believer.

"I went from being pretty skeptical, to drinking the Kool-Aid, and then I started pouring the Kool-Aid," López-Alegría told a small group of media and Visitor Complex guests on Thursday, referencing opening up access to space beyond government astronauts.

López-Alegría was there to unveil the spacesuit he wore when he led an Axiom Space mission, which was the first ever private spaceflight to the space station. He was joined by three paying customers on the flight in April 2022.

While flying in spacecrafts, astronauts wear special flight suits. Most people are familiar with NASA's bright blue or the SpaceX black flight suits, but Axiom Space has a look all its own in deep blue and black. Like Air Force pilots, astronauts wear a jumpsuit made of Nomex, which is a flame resistant material.

Visitors can now see López-Alegría's flight suit, which he wore to command Axiom 1. Located in the Space Shuttle Atlantis building, the suit is on display in the International Space Station exhibit underneath Atlantis.

López-Alegría was selected by NASA in 1992 to be an astronaut and had a 20 year career with the space agency. During his time with NASA, López-Alegría flew on space shuttles Columbia, Discovery, and Endeavour. He also flew one mission on the Soyuz as part of Expedition 14 in 2006-2007.

During Expedition 14, he ended up flying to space with a spaceflight participant − businesswoman Anousheh Ansari, who had paid for the flight. López-Alegría admits he wasn't thrilled at first to be flying with someone who was not a professional astronaut, but once he saw the benefit to society, he quickly changed his mind.

"When we got to orbit, she started doing this thing brand new, called blogging. So, a million people are following her on the ground. These are a million people who probably didn't care much about human spaceflight, but just wanted to understand the human experience," said López-Alegría. "And it dawned on me that that's pretty important."

After retiring from NASA, he found himself back on the ISS thanks to Axiom Space. López-Alegría originally became a consultant to Axiom Space, but has since flown to the ISS twice with the private space company.

As a result, he has flown on SpaceX's Crew Dragon twice, commanding missions AX-1 and AX-3. Axiom Space sends its astronaut crews to conduct research on the ISS and in preparation for its upcoming space station module, aimed at eventually serving as a replacement to the ISS when the ISS retires in 2030.

López-Alegría said it's unlikely governments would be willing to build another station so the future will depend on private space companies.

Axiom's partner, Thales Alenia Space, is working with NASA on the design of the module before its current anticipated 2026 launch.

For now, the public can see López-Alegría's flight suit at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, located on Merritt Island, where it will be on display throughout 2025. A one-day ticket is $75 per adult and $65 per child.

López-Alegría told FLORIDA TODAY he doesn't know if he will command another Axiom Space mission in the future. Axiom's next mission to the ISS, AX-4, is anticipated for Spring of 2025.

Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at [email protected] or on X: @brookeofstars.