SpaceX launches 3 rich visitors to the space station
SpaceX launched three rich businessmen and their astronaut escort to the International Space Station on Friday for more than a week's stay.
It's SpaceX's first private charter flight to the orbiting lab after two years of carrying astronauts there for NASA. The milestone venture is the first-of-its kind mission involving the private sector of space travel.
An absolutely picture perfect launch_ said SpaceX engineer Kate Tice during a live broadcast of the mission.
Three entrepreneurs spent $55 million each for their tickets to outer space aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket_ totaling $165 million.
The paying passengers are Larry Connor_ the managing partner of an Ohio real estate group_ Mark Pathy_ the chief executive of a Canadian investment firm_ and Eytan Stibbe_ a businessman and former Israeli Air Force fighter pilot.
Michael Lopez-Alegria_ a former NASA astronaut and Axiom vice president_ served as their guide. Axiom is the Houston-based company that commissioned the flight with SpaceX.
The privatization of space tourism and travel is becoming more prominent_ with Elon Musk s SpaceX competing with Jeff Bezos Blue Origin and Richard Branson s Virgin Galactic for wealthy passengers.
The astronauts are expected to reach the ISS on Saturday_ where they will spend eight days on board before returning to Earth in SpaceX s autonomous Dragon spacecraft.
Axiom is planning a series of privately funded missions to the space station_ which was not possible before 2019_ until NASA changed its policy to allow private citizens aboard.
Axiom is also in the process of building its own space station_ which the company envisions to serve as an eventual replacement for the International Space Station.
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