Closing Bell Manifest Space: Axiom Space Launches Fourth Private Crew Mission with Axiom Space CEO Tejpaul Bhatia 7/7/25
Jul 7, 2025
Tejpaul Bhatia, CEO of Axiom Space and a serial entrepreneur with a background at Google, shares exciting insights on launching the AX-4 mission to the ISS, which brings together astronauts from India, Poland, and Turkey. He discusses Axiom's ambitious vision for a commercial space station and how partnerships are reshaping the future of space travel. Bhatia also delves into the evolving economics of space missions, emphasizing a shift towards a value-based model and the burgeoning opportunities in the commercial space sector.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Axiom: Space Agency in a Box
- Axiom Space acts as a "space agency in a box" enabling countries without a spaceflight history to send astronauts to the ISS rapidly.
- The AX-4 mission marked a significant diplomatic milestone with India, Poland, and Hungary returning to space after decades.
CEO's Personal Investment Story
- Tejpaul Bhatia personally invested in Axiom Space after recognizing its unique contract to dock modules to the ISS.
- Axiom has sold out not only its four precursor missions but also the next four, showing high demand.
Profitable Space Tourism Model
- Axiom’s missions have proven profitable and sustainable, with seat prices around $65-70 million.
- The focus is on customer lifetime value, not just costs, paralleling cloud platforms' strategy.