The first space mission, organized entirely by private enterprise, began with the launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Florida to the International Space Station.
The rocket, successfully launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Station, carries four people. US real estate investor Larry Connor, Canadian businessman Mark Pathy, and Israeli ex-fighter pilot Eytan Stibbe, who paid the $55 million ticket price, and ex-NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, who commanded this team, will stay at the International Space Station for 8 days and participate in scientific projects. will take charge.
Although SpaceX owns the rocket to carry the team into space, the mission is undertaken by the company Axiom Space.
The mission, welcomed by NASA, is seen as an important step towards the commercialization of “Low Earth Orbit”. “We’re taking commerce into space,” NASA President Bill Nelson said just before launch.
The launch moments of the space passengers and the images inside the space shuttle were broadcast live. Some time after the launch, information and images were shared that the Dragon capsule, which contained the passengers, was separated from the rocket and moved to the next stage.
If all goes as planned, the four people will reach the International Space Station, 400 kilometers from Earth, on Saturday, after a flight that will take more than 20 hours.