SpaceX and Axiom Space send 4 space tourists to the ISS
Texas-based Axiom Space has launched a second private mission to send tourists to the International Space Station. The crew was led by Peggy Whitson, a former National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut.
Here's What We Know
The four astronauts aboard the Crew Dragon were sent to the ISS using a Falcon 9 rocket launched from a pad in Florida. It is expected to dock with the ISS on May 22 at 4:24 p.m. (EET).
Liftoff of Ax-2! pic.twitter.com/YS3SDuStNy
- SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 21, 2023
Flight profile of Dragon and Ax-2 as they travel to the @space_station pic.twitter.com/yaFmiyxhLw
- SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 21, 2023
In addition to Peggy Whitson, the crew included Dura-Line Corp founder John Shoffner, Saudi Air Force pilot Rayyanah Barnawi and Saudi Arabia's first female astronaut Ali AlQarni.
First Falcon 9 LZ-1 landing for a human spaceflight mission pic.twitter.com/2stzJoA7cX
- SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 22, 2023
They will all be on the ISS for a week, conducting experiments and science projects. One of the jobs will be stem cell research. Currently, there are seven astronauts living and working on the ISS.
Source: SpaceX
