A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule prepare to launch the four-man crew of Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., on May 21, 2023. Delivery to the International Space Station.
Captain Joe | Reuters
SpaceX’s next private flight to the International Space Station will take off on Sunday, weather and rockets permitting.
Passengers included Saudi Arabia’s first astronauts in decades and a Tennessee businessman who started his own racing team. They will be led by a retired NASA astronaut who now works for the company that arranges the 10-day trip.
This is the second charter flight organized by Houston-based Axiom Space. The company would not say how much the latest fares will cost; it had previously quoted $55 million per seat.
With the Falcon rocket launch pad, SpaceX plans to blast off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center late Sunday afternoon. In 1985, Saudi Arabia’s first astronaut Prince also soared here.
Representing the Saudi Arabian government this time were Rayyanah Barnawi and Royal Saudi Air Force fighter pilot Ali al-Qarni.
Team Members: John Shoffner, racing fan; Peggy Whitson holds the record for longest U.S. space stay at 665 days.
