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When taking a private spaceflight trip to the International Space Station, NASA requires civilians to be accompanied by a former NASA Astronaut.
The rule change was announced by the space agency on August 1. Michael Lpez-Alegra was the leader of the three person crew.
The goal is to provide a link between the resident crew of the International Space Station and the private astronauts.
The news of the rule change comes less than six months after Michael Suffredini said he would be able to fly four paying customers to the International Space Station.
The second mission will be led by a former NASA Astronaut and is expected to launch early next year.
According to SpaceNews, the rule change could change the profitability of the company in the future.
Futurism reached out to Axiom about the issue.
Private astronauts will need to submit research plans a full year in advance of their mission to the International Space Station.
The company's first mission was rushed and this change is a response to that. Commander Lpez-Alegra admitted during a May conference that the trip's pace was frantic.
"I think we were so focused on research and outreach in the first eight or ten days that we needed the extra time to complete the experience by having time to look out the window, to make contact with friends and family, to just enjoy," the commander said.
It makes sense for an experienced NASA Astronaut to accompany space tourists to and from the space station.
It takes a long time for real astronauts to be trained for missions into space.
The requirements for private astronauts have been revised.
NASA is trying to get funding to send scientists to the space station.
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