Private Axiom-2 crew set for launch from Kennedy Space Center

Sunday afternoon, Axiom-2 is set to light up the sky over the Space Coast as a second group of private astronauts kick off a science mission to the International Space Station.

Liftoff of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Axiom-2's four astronauts is set for 5:37 p.m. EDT Sunday, May 21, from Kennedy Space Center's pad 39A.

Ready for liftoff: Everything 'go' for launch of SpaceX Axiom-2 private astronaut mission

More photos: SpaceX's Axiom-2 private astronaut crew

But who are the private Axiom astronauts who will be onboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule? Here's what we know:

Peggy Whitson

Mission commander Peggy Whitson is no stranger to space travel.

• Whitson holds the record among American astronauts and among women for spending the most time in space, over 665 days (and counting)

• First female commander of the International Space Station and the only woman to serve as ISS commander twice

• On Ax-2, Whitson will become the first woman to command a private space mission

• First woman and first non-military chief of NASA's Astronaut Office

• First ISS science officer

• Holds the records for the most spacewalks by a woman (10)

• TIME 100 Most Influential People in the World (2018)

John Shoffner

STEM advocate, business pioneer, and lifelong space enthusiast John Shoffner will serve as pilot for the Ax-2 mission.

• Cycled across the U.S. in 18 days without support

• Accumulated 8,500 flight hours

• Completed 3,000 sky dives and base jumps

• Placed second in 2019 Nürburgring Endurance Series Carrera Cup Class Championship

• Formed a young astronauts club as a child

Ali AlQarni

Representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ali AlQarni (pronounced Ali Al-car-knee) will serve as a mission specialist on the Ax-2 mission.

• 12 years of flying experience with 2,387 flight hours

• A fighter pilot with the Royal Saudi Air Force, he's primarily piloted an F-15SA

• Inaugural member of the Saudi National Astronaut Program

• Only the second Saudi male astronaut and one of the first Saudi astronauts to visit the ISS

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace science from King Faisal Air Academy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

• Athletic enthusiast

• Free time: Making coffee, grilling steaks and restoring antique cars

Rayyanah Barnawi

Also representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Rayyanah Barnawi (pronounced Ray-AH-nah Bar-now-wee) will serve as a mission specialist on the Ax-2 mission.

• Biomedical researcher with almost a decade of experience in cancer stem-cell research

• Making history as the first Saudi female astronaut to go to space and one of the first Saudi astronauts to visit the ISS

• Master of biomedical sciences from Alfaisal University in Saudi Arabia

• Bachelor of biomedical sciences from Otago University in New Zealand

• More than nine years as a research lab technician for the Stem Cell and Tissue Re-engineering Program at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

• Outdoor and sports enthusiast participating in adventures around the world

Rob Landers is a veteran multimedia journalist for the USA Today Network of Florida. Contact Landers at 321-242-3627 or rlanders@gannett.com. Instagram: @ByRobLanders Youtube: @florida_today

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX Axiom-2 crew ready for mission to International Space Station