First Private Mission To Space Station Takes Off From Florida

Topline

The first private mission to the International Space Station took off at 11:17 a.m. ET on Friday from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, carrying three tourists in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule in a flight arranged by the company Axiom Space.

CANAVERAL, FL - APRIL 8: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from launch complex 39A carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft on a commercial mission managed by Axion Space at Kennedy Space Center April 8, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The first fully private crew on an 10-day mission to the International Space Station is commanded by former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria ,who works for Axiom, paying passengers Larry Connor, Pilot, Mark Pathy and Eytan Sibbe. (Photo by Red Huber/Getty Images) Getty Images

Key Facts

NASA has touted the partnership between Axiom Space and SpaceX as a key step in achieving its goal to commercialize “low Earth orbit.”

The mission, called AX-1, is led by Michael Lopez-Alegría, 63, a former NASA astronaut, who is shepherding three customers: Larry Connor, 72, an Ohio real estate mogul; Mark Pathy, 52, founder and CEO of Montreal-based family office Mavrik Corp; and Eytan Stibbe, 64, an Israeli businessman.

They are expected to arrive at the space station, some 250 miles above Earth, in 28 hours, Reuters reported.

During the 10-day trip the tourists will participate in scientific research–aging in space and stem cell experiments—and technology demonstrations, Axiom Space said in a statement.

They will live with the regular crew at the space station, including three Americans and three Russians, AFP reported.

Tangent

Axiom and SpaceX are in charge of the flight until the capsule nears the space station, and NASA has minimal involvement in the process, the New York Times reported.

Big Number

$55 million. That’s the reported price for a ticket for the 10-day space trip.

Key Background

Axiom Space says its customers are more than just tourists like those carried by Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic because they’ll participate in scientific research. Axiom Space, which coordinates flights to the space station for private citizens, said it and SpaceX have agreed to send three additional missions in the next two years, and the second mission, called Ax-2, has already been approved in principle by NASA.

What To Watch For

Axiom Space plans to build its space station, with the first module expected to launch in September 2024 and then three more modules by 2027.

Further Reading

First private mission readies for launch to ISS (AFP)

First private astronaut mission to space station readies for launch (Reuters)

These are the four people launching on SpaceX's first ISS space tourism mission (CNN)