The success of Demo-2 helped usher in a new era in spaceflight - one led by commercial companies. 'Glad to be back in space for all of us,' Kimbrough radioed SpaceX flight controllers after reaching orbit. In a nice bit of additional symmetry, Behnken is McArthur's husband. The Crew Dragon vehicle that launched this morning, known as Endeavour, also lifted off in May of 2020, carrying NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the ISS on the Demo-2 test flight, SpaceX's first-ever crewed mission. It marked several firsts, including the first time that people have flown on a used Crew Dragon and with a used Falcon 9 first stage, and the first time that two different international astronauts have ridden in the capsule. These types of trippy effects are typical during twilight conditions present at dawn and dusk, and this morning’s launch did not disappoint.Ĭrew-2's launch was one for the history books. The skies were clear enough that onlookers could see the rocket’s engines relight as the first stage made its way back to Earth.Ī massive space jellyfish or nebula cloud formed in the sky. Meet Crew-2: See the 4 astronauts aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon 'Predawn launches are always amazing,' said Steve Jurzcyk, acting NASA administrator during the webcast. The Falcon 9 put on a breathtaking show this morning as the glows from the rocket’s engines lit up the sky. 'Off the Earth, for the Earth, Endeavour is ready to go.' Connor will also serve as the capsule pilot under Lopez-Alegria.'Our crew is flying astronauts from NASA, ESA and JAXA, which hasn't happened in over 20 years,' Kimbrough told SpaceX flight controllers just before launch as he thanked the NASA and SpaceX teams. With the flight, 70-year-old Connor is also set to become the second-oldest person to fly in space, after John Glenn who took a shuttle flight in 1998 at the age of 77. Suffredini mentions that each of the private astronauts had to pass medical tests for the flight, following which, they will now get 15 weeks of training. Stibbe is reportedly a close friend of Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut who lost his life in the space shuttle Columbia accident in 2003. They will come back to Earth after spending eight days in space.Īxiom's first customers include Larry Connor, a real estate and tech entrepreneur from Dayton, Ohio, Mark Pathy - a Canadian financier, and Israeli businessman Eytan Stibbe. Once on the station, each of the customers intends to perform science research in orbit. The first private crew will lift off from Cape Canaveral aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule and take one or two days to get to the ISS. In an interaction with The Associated Press, Suffredini confirmed that the three paid travellers “are just people who want to be able to go to space, and we're providing that opportunity.'

It's never been done before,' said Axiom's chief executive and president Mike Suffredini.

“This is the first private flight to the International Space Station.

The designated crew, including the private travellers, will fly to the ISS next January on a SpaceX rocket. The first-of-its-kind space trip is being organised by Axiom Space, a Houston-based aerospace manufacturer. The Ax-1 crew, (L-R): Michael López-Alegría, Mark Pathy, Larry Connor and Eytan Stibbe. It includes three men, each paying $55 million for the trip, and a former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria. Crew for the first ever private flight to the International Space Station was introduced on Tuesday.

Private space crew