The mission, hailed as a milestone in commercialised space flight, will see the astronauts conducting more than two dozen science experiments aboard the ISS
A SpaceX Falcon 9 with the Crew Dragon capsule stands in preparation for the first private astronaut mission to the ISS from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral on April 7 2022. Picture: REUTERS/THOM BAUR
If all goes as planned, the quartet led by retired Nasa astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria will arrive at the space station on Saturday, after a 20-hour-plus flight, as their SpaceX-supplied Crew Dragon capsule docks with the orbiting outpost about 400km above the Earth. Photographers prepare remote cameras for the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 on the first private astronaut mission to the ISS from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral on April 7 2022. Picture: REUTERS/Steve Nesius
While the space station has hosted civilian visitors from time to time, the Ax-1 mission will mark the first all-commercial team of astronauts to use ISS for its intended purpose as an orbiting laboratory. Rounding out the Ax-1 team are Israeli investor-philanthropist and former fighter pilot Eytan Stibbe and Canadian businessman and philanthropist Mark Pathy, both serving as mission specialists. Stibbe is set to become the second Israeli in space, after Ilan Ramon, who perished with six Nasa crewmates in the 2003 space shuttle Columbia disaster.
The Ax-1 team also will be conducting more than two dozen science experiments aboard ISS, including research on brain health, cardiac stem cells, cancer and ageing as well as a technology demonstration to produce optics using the surface tension of fluids in microgravity, company executives said.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
First private mission launches for International Space StationThe first fully private mission to the International Space Station blasted off from Florida Friday.
Read more »
IEA states agree to release 60-million barrels of emergency oil stocksInternational Energy Agency head Fatih Birol gives details of oil plan to counter rising prices after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Read more »
Mngqithi hails goal-machine Shalulile as the ultimate professional'He is one player who never puts a foot wrong in terms of giving himself to the team,' said the Sundowns co-head coach.
Read more »
Pep Guardiola To Brazil?😳 Reports suggest that the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) wants Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola to be its next national team head coach. SLInt MORE:
Read more »
Clarence Ford to stand in for Lester Kiewit on CapeTalk!Capetonian radio legend, Clarence Ford will be back on the airwaves after CapeTalk announced that he will stand in for Lester Kiewit as the host of The Morning Review show from Monday, 11 April until Thursday 14 April.
Read more »
Matsatsantsa Diski team lose key players to first teamSuperSport United reserves head coach Thabo September has revealed that they will not have some of their best players as they have to provide cover for the first team who are suffering from injuries and suspensions.
Read more »