Michael Lopez-Alegria

Michael Lopez-Alegria, a veteran NASA astronaut and chief astronaut at Axiom Space, shares his deep insights into what living on Mars might really mean. He discusses the emotional toll of long missions, including the hardships of isolation and the psychological weight of being so far from Earth. The conversation also touches on the harsh realities of Mars’ environment, from toxic soil to radiation exposure. Lopez-Alegria critiques the romanticized visions of self-sustaining Mars colonies, emphasizing that any Martian settlement would likely remain dependent on Earth.

Former NASA astronaut and commander of Axiom Mission 3, Michael Lopez-Alegria, discusses his career and the upcoming private astronaut mission. Topics include childhood influences, short vs long-duration missions in space, the development of commercial space stations, future changes and flexibility in space stations, the inspiration and influence of private astronaut missions, and improvements in the upcoming AX3 mission.