Michael Lopez Alegria

Michael Lopez-Alegria has transitioned from a decorated NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy Test Pilot into a leader in commercial space, commanding an all-private mission to the International Space Station. After a decorated career as a NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy Test Pilot, Michael Lopez Alegria transitioned into a leader in commercial space, commanding the first all-private mission to the International Space Station.

Lopez Alegria joined NASA in August 1992, serving as the Astronaut Office technical point of contact for space shuttle projects and providing crew representation at Kennedy Space Center. His first space mission was STS-73 Columbia in 1995 as Mission Specialist. Following his initial spaceflight, Lopez Alegria was appointed NASA Director of Operations at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia. He continued his extensive spaceflight career with a second mission aboard STS-92 Discovery in 2000 as Mission Specialist, where he tested the SAFER jet backpack flying up to 50 feet from the spacecraft.

Lopez Alegria continued his trailblazing efforts in January 2024 by commanding Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), further solidifying his position as a leading figure in the private space industry. His remarkable career spans from decorated military aviator and record-setting NASA astronaut to a pioneer in commercial human spaceflight, consistently driving forward the boundaries of exploration.