Commanding the Axiom Mission 1 in 2022, Michael López-Alegría led the first all-private team of commercial astronauts to the International Space Station. His career spans decades of flight, transitioning from a career as a United States Naval aviator and test pilot into a role as a central figure in the commercialization of low Earth orbit.
Naval Aviation and NASA Selection
Born in Madrid in 1958, López-Alegría moved to Mission Viejo, California, during his youth. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1980 with a degree in systems engineering and later earned a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1988. Before joining NASA, he served as a test pilot and instructor at Naval Air Station Whiting Field and the Naval Air Test Center in Maryland. His training included the United States Naval Test Pilot School and the Harvard Kennedy School's program for senior executives.
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López-Alegría participated in three Space Shuttle missions: STS-73 in 1995, STS-92 in 2000, and STS-113 in 2002. During the 2000 flight, he tested the SAFER jet backpack alongside Jeff Wisoff. In 2006, he launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, aboard Soyuz TMA-9 to serve as commander of Expedition 14. He remained on the International Space Station until April 2007, marking a then-record duration for an American spaceflight at 215 days.
Spacewalk Records
Throughout his career, López-Alegría performed ten extravehicular activities, commonly known as spacewalks. He holds the American record for both the highest number of such missions and the longest cumulative duration, totaling 67 hours and 40 minutes. His experience also includes service as an aquanaut in 2001, when he participated in the first NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations crew at the Aquarius underwater laboratory.
Commercial Spaceflight Transition
After retiring from NASA in 2012, he served as president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. He joined Axiom Space in 2017 as director of Business Development. In 2022, he returned to space to command the Axiom-1 mission, spending 17 days in orbit. He subsequently commanded the Axiom Mission 3, which launched on January 18, 2024.
Fast facts
- Born: 1958, Madrid
- Education: United States Naval Academy, Naval Postgraduate School
- Military Rank: Captain
- Total Spaceflights: 6
- Total Spacewalks: 10
- NASA Retirement: 12 March 2012
- Languages: Spanish, American English, French, Russian
Questions readers ask
How many spacewalks has he conducted?
He has performed ten spacewalks during his career, holding the American record for both the number of EVAs and total duration.
What is his role in commercial spaceflight?
López-Alegría served as president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation and currently commands private commercial missions for Axiom Space.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at John F. Kennedy School of Government, Naval Postgraduate School and United States Naval Test Pilot School
- Worked as astronaut
