In April 2022, the Rakia Mission made history as part of the AX-1 mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), achieving remarkable breakthroughs in education, science, and art. This inspirational mission showed that There is no dream is beyond reach!
The AX-1 mission featured 4 astronauts, including astronaut Eytan Stibbe, the first israeli astronaut in the international space station who embarked on this historic national endeavor.
Over its 17-day duration, Rakia Mission featured a range of scientific experiments, showcased inspiring artworks, and organized educational activities for students and the general public, both in Israel and worldwide. Rakia Mission broadcasted content from space in Hebrew for the first time ever.
During the mission, Rakia in collaboration with Axiom, successfully introduced a groundbreaking open-source approach to human spaceflight missions for the general public: educators, students, artists, academia, hospitals, and private companies, were invited to devise the mission's program. This inclusive approach resulted in a fruitful and impactful collaboration among various entities, leading to innovative developments, educational activities, and an impressive total of 95 distinct contributions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
On January 2023, Rakia relaunched as a public-benefit corporation (PBC).
Here are a few of our current projects:
Advance The Space Ecosystem in Israel
Israel Space Forum – A collaborative initiative between Rakia Mission and Israel Space Agency at the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, aims to propel the Israeli space ecosystem to new heights. By fostering collaborations, empowering civilian space enterprises, and providing essential services, the forum serves as a catalyst for advancing the nation’s space industry.
Israeli activities onboard the International Space Station
By partnering with international commercial entities, new opportunities are created for researchers and entrepreneurs to send experiments to the International Space Station. Rakia also enables access for Israeli companies, artists, educators and students to engage in international space initiatives
Universities and Colleges Space Community
Our mission is to gather israeli students from universities and colleges, fostering both local and international collaborations while creating opportunities in academia and the Israeli and global space industry.
Space for All
Developing inspiring educational content for the general public, including videos, games and lesson plans. Rakia organize exhibitions and visitor centers for the general public that explore the fascinating field of space. These exhibits showcase the story of space missions, the experiences of astronauts, and insights into daily life and scientific work aboard the International Space Station.
Art and Culture
Rakia engages artists from diverse fields, offering a platform for innovative expression and collective imagination in the realm of space exploration. Our projects and activities emphasize the concept of "space for everyone," challenging the idea that space is exclusively the domain of exact science researchers.