Going to space is such a unique but fascinating experience that deserves to be shared. NASA's amplification of the Artemis II mission as a public event instead of a technical test allowed the world to take part. That matters because flying in space is magnificent, but also finite. Sharing the live stream, photos, and updates in real time let people follow the mission as it unfolded, not after it was over. Few people may get the actual view, but that doesn't mean everyone has to miss the story.

I launched into space for the first time #OTD in 1995 as part of STS-73. There is nothing quite like the energy and anticipation of your first spaceflight!

I performed my first spacewalk #OTD in 2000!

The International Space Station was primarily designed as a government and international project. A commercial station, however, must operate as both a spacecraft and a business. This creates an interesting balancing act between profit-making activities and important research that doesn't generate profit. The most workable model is likely mixed-use: NASA and other governments act as anchor tenants who buy research time and crew accommodations at predictable rates, while private companies fill the remaining capacity with higher-margin activities. I believe with the right mix, a commercial station can stay financially viable without sacrificing valuable research. 📷 Axiom Space/ Ax-4

The most tranquil moments are when you’re looking out the window at Earth. The more people who live this experience, the better the world will become.

Grateful to be part of @IAC2026Antalya. Thank you to the IAF and the hosts - The @tuajans and SAHA - for including me in the conversation on building the next chapter of human spaceflight.

As an astronaut I tend to get the same questions repeatedly. The top one, of course, is the bathroom, but closely followed by: "Were you afraid?" I was afraid. I think most astronauts are, but I wasn't afraid of going to space. I was afraid of making a mistake and letting the team down.

As an astronaut I tend to get the same questions repeatedly. The top one, of course, is the bathroom, but closely followed by: "Were you afraid?" I was afraid. I think most astronauts are, but I wasn't afraid of going to space. I was afraid of making a mistake and letting the team down.

Axiom is building a truly international space ecosystem. The International Space Station has shown what’s possible when nations partner in space, and we’re committed to carrying that spirit of cooperation forward. The more countries that have skin in the game, the stronger the supply chain becomes—and, more importantly, the greater the chance for lasting teamwork and mutual tolerance.

The speed at which the satellite industry is growing is staggering and Earth-sensing satellites are a great example. In the last 10 years roughly 1,600 different satellites have been launched just for remote sensing (1,000 of them within just the last 5 years). These satellites give us a continuous, global view of Earth in a variety of spectra, allowing us to make better informed decisions on everything from agriculture to disaster response!

I was somewhat worried about my first long-duration space mission. Up until then, I had only flown short missions and saw myself more as a sprinter than a marathon runner. But with a small crew and a packed schedule, the time passed surprisingly quickly. I didn’t even start thinking about coming home until about a week before undocking. I firmly believe that having “meaningful work” is key., and am sure this will continue to be one of the most important factors for very long missions like a trip to Mars. If each person can finish the day and honestly say, “I moved the ball forward today,” the distance and duration become far more manageable.

20 Years ago today I took a ride on a Soyuz up to the International Space Station. It was amazing (and about as comfortable as it looks)!

The AxEMU is designed to be both a walking suit and for use in microgravity.  During testing we are often suspended by a weight relief system for practical and safety reasons. For some reason, the weight relief system is called Howard. So every time we want to be raised or lowered, we say 'Up Howard' or 'Down Howard.’ It's good to have a little levity in the middle of high stakes engineering 🙂

The way we approach spaceflight is constantly changing. During STS-73, for example, we had Red and Blue teams. The crew were split up for sleep shifts, so while the blue team slept, the red team worked, and vice versa. That worked okay for short-duration missions but would challenge long-duration flights, so the Space Station crews adopted a single, unified schedule. With the return of Private Astronaut Missions, short-duration flights have resurfaced, but continue to follow the established Space Station schedule. Managing two different schedules in one space station would be too disruptive to daily activities and the mission flow.

You might hear astronauts say that space smells like burnt metal, and I wouldn't disagree, but the smell doesn't actually come from the vacuum of space. The smell astronauts refer to occurs after completing a spacewalk and coming back into the hatch. After spending several hours in the extreme temperatures of space, the metal on your suit and tools is offgassing and that's what actually causes the smell. I have also heard it referred to as 'burnt steak,' but I think that may just be a reaction to space food and wishful thinking 😉

It was a pleasure to take part in the "An Aerospace Nation" summer program at @unicomplutense. It's exciting to see so many young minds interested in the future of aerospace.

One of the most interesting aspects of spaceflight is the introspective shift it creates because it forces you to recognize your strengths and accept your weaknesses as both an individual and a team.

NASA has successfully executed complex space missions for over 50 years, giving us a proven roadmap for success. The key to a thriving commercial space economy is to follow that roadmap—only faster, while incorporating cutting-edge technology and new innovations. Combining NASA’s deep experience with the commercial sector’s agility will refine existing approaches and unlock entirely new markets in orbit.