Michael L-A

A six-time astronaut, holds two NASA records for spacewalks; Commander of Ax-1, the first private spaceflight to the ISS (4-8-22) & Ax-3 (1-18-24)

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

The contrast between eating on Earth and eating in space is sharper than you’d expect. I enjoy the process of cooking a meal on Earth, and I really missed that in orbit. Simple things—the weight of a real plate, the smell of fresh garlic being sautéed, a glass of wine with dinner—suddenly mattered more than I would have guessed. It’s interesting how modest details can make such a difference. Some of the best parts of everyday life are the ones you barely notice until they’re gone.

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

I landed back on Earth today in 1995 on Shuttle Columbia as part of STS-73. It's hard to believe my first spaceflight was over 30 years ago!

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

As magnificent as spaceflight is, you can’t even imagine what a spacewalk is like. It's the special of the special. I describe flying into space as a 100 on a scale of 100 and a spacewalk as 1000 on the same scale.

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

Today marks 26 years of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station. Since Expedition 1 arrived on November 2, 2000, there has always been someone living and working off-planet. What began as a bold engineering and political partnership has become a cornerstone of science, exploration, and global cooperation.

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

Contrary to popular belief, you don't really feel like you're by yourself living in space. In today’s world, people in Antarctica or on nuclear submarines in the Navy are significantly more isolated than we were in space. At this point we have tools like email and FaceTime—I even took my phone up on my last mission!

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

One challenging aspect of spacewalking is helmet mobility. Because it is fixed to the hard upper torso, you can't just turn your head to see left, right, up or down - you have to turn your whole body. The complexity of the spacecraft doesn't allow a neck bearing design, however, the new #AxEMU suit improves this through architectural changes so astronauts get a more usable view with less need to spin the entire torso.

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

I came back to Earth this week in 2000 on Space Shuttle Discovery, marking NASA's 100th Shuttle flight.

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

Going to space is such a unique but fascinating experience that deserves to be shared. NASA's amplification of the Artemis II mission as a public event instead of a technical test allowed the world to take part. That matters because flying in space is magnificent, but also finite. Sharing the live stream, photos, and updates in real time let people follow the mission as it unfolded, not after it was over. Few people may get the actual view, but that doesn't mean everyone has to miss the story.

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

I launched into space for the first time #OTD in 1995 as part of STS-73. There is nothing quite like the energy and anticipation of your first spaceflight!

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

I performed my first spacewalk #OTD in 2000!

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

The International Space Station was primarily designed as a government and international project. A commercial station, however, must operate as both a spacecraft and a business. This creates an interesting balancing act between profit-making activities and important research that doesn't generate profit. The most workable model is likely mixed-use: NASA and other governments act as anchor tenants who buy research time and crew accommodations at predictable rates, while private companies fill the remaining capacity with higher-margin activities. I believe with the right mix, a commercial station can stay financially viable without sacrificing valuable research.
📷 Axiom Space/ Ax-4

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

The most tranquil moments are when you’re looking out the window at Earth. The more people who live this experience, the better the world will become.

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

Grateful to be part of @IAC2026Antalya. Thank you to the IAF and the hosts - The @tuajans and SAHA - for including me in the conversation on building the next chapter of human spaceflight.

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

As an astronaut I tend to get the same questions repeatedly. The top one, of course, is the bathroom, but closely followed by: "Were you afraid?" I was afraid. I think most astronauts are, but I wasn't afraid of going to space. I was afraid of making a mistake and letting the team down.

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

As an astronaut I tend to get the same questions repeatedly. The top one, of course, is the bathroom, but closely followed by: "Were you afraid?" I was afraid. I think most astronauts are, but I wasn't afraid of going to space. I was afraid of making a mistake and letting the team down.

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

Axiom is building a truly international space ecosystem. The International Space Station has shown what’s possible when nations partner in space, and we’re committed to carrying that spirit of cooperation forward. The more countries that have skin in the game, the stronger the supply chain becomes—and, more importantly, the greater the chance for lasting teamwork and mutual tolerance.

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

The speed at which the satellite industry is growing is staggering and Earth-sensing satellites are a great example. In the last 10 years roughly 1,600 different satellites have been launched just for remote sensing (1,000 of them within just the last 5 years). These satellites give us a continuous, global view of Earth in a variety of spectra, allowing us to make better informed decisions on everything from agriculture to disaster response!

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

I was somewhat worried about my first long-duration space mission. Up until then, I had only flown short missions and saw myself more as a sprinter than a marathon runner. But with a small crew and a packed schedule, the time passed surprisingly quickly. I didn’t even start thinking about coming home until about a week before undocking. I firmly believe that having “meaningful work” is key., and am sure this will continue to be one of the most important factors for very long missions like a trip to Mars. If each person can finish the day and honestly say, “I moved the ball forward today,” the distance and duration become far more manageable.

[Michael L-A @CommanderMLA]

20 Years ago today I took a ride on a Soyuz up to the International Space Station. It was amazing (and about as comfortable as it looks)!