Houston, we have a podcast.

Welcome to the official podcast of the NASA Johnson Space Center, episode 388,

Private Astronaut Mission Management.

I'm Gary Jordan, and I'll be your host today.

On this podcast, we bring in the experts, scientists, engineers, and astronauts,

all to let you know what's going on in the world of human spaceflight and more.

Closing in on almost 25 years of continuous human habitation, the

International Space Station has served as a beacon for scientific discovery and technology

demonstration, as well as a testbed for future operations. We've learned a lot in low Earth orbit,

but one thing is clear is that there's so much more to learn. The International Space Station is not meant to last forever, though its value cannot be understated.

So what comes next?

Well, NASA is working with American commercial companies to own and operate their own space stations,

and NASA can be one of many customers.

While at face value, this may sound easy.

There's a lot of groundwork needed to make this transition as smooth as possible.

Part of this groundwork is understanding how NASA and commercial companies will operate together,

the procedures, considerations, priorities, and of course the astronauts.

So to be ready for working together after the International Space Station is retired,

the best place to learn how to do so is none other than the International Space Station is retired, the best place to learn how to do so

is none other than the International Space Station. Enter private astronaut missions. Through these

missions, private companies train astronauts for a mission to the International Space Station. Each

mission has its own objectives, and with the upcoming AX4 mission, there are plenty. But it also serves as the

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