SpaceX's second private mission for Axiom Space docks with International Space Station
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SpaceX's Axiom-2 mission took off from Kennedy Space Center Sunday evening, carrying the second all-private crew of astronauts to the International Space Station in record fashion.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule, named "Freedom," launched from pad 39A at 5:37 p.m. EDT and docked with the space station less than 16 hours later at 9:12 a.m. EDT Monday, May 22. It marked the quickest time between launch and docking for a Crew Dragon capsule.
The Axiom-2 mission also marks SpaceX's 10th human spaceflight mission since beginning services in 2020. The company's first crewed mission, Demo-2, returned human spaceflight capabilities to the U.S. after nearly a decade-long hiatus caused by NASA's retirement of the space shuttle in 2011.
Private crew includes Saudi Arabia's first woman in space
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The crew of four is commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Axiom Space's director of human spaceflight. She is joined by private spaceflight participant and mission pilot John Shoffner and the first two Saudi Arabian government-sponsored astronauts, mission specialists Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi.
Before liftoff, Whitson gave a few remarks that recognized the hard work of not only launch teams but the thousands of people that it takes to make a crewed launch happen.
"Today, we stand on the threshold of a remarkable journey thanks to your unwavering spirit to explore beyond our home planet and the endless possibility it enables. Thanks to the teams that make up our very big family Axiom Space, NASA, the international space partners, and SpaceX," Whitson said. "And with that, let's get to work and build some history together."
Shoffner, the only paying customer on the flight, is a businessman, aviator, and STEM advocate who was born in Alaska and currently resides in Knoxville, Tennessee. He fills the pilot seat for the private mission since he is a veteran aviator with 25 years and more than 8,500 hours of flying experience.
Axiom did not release how much Shoffner and Saudi Arabia paid for the planned 10-day mission but the company previously cited a ticket price of $55 million per seat.
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Barnawi, the first female Saudi astronaut, is a breast cancer researcher. Alqarni is a captain and fighter pilot with 12 years of experience in the Royal Saudi Air Force. The pair are the first Saudi citizens to visit the space station.
During an in-flight media event from orbit with the crew, Whitson said, "I'm really excited about returning to space, but even more excited about welcoming three new astronauts to space."
Barnawi and Alqarni followed with remarks in both Arabic and English.
"At this moment, it's historic not just for me, but for every Saudi. And I couldn't have done it without the support, love, and trust from all of you guys," Alqarni said before extending gratitude to the king and crown prince of Saudi Arabia.
"It feels amazing to be viewing Earth from this capsule," Barnawi said.
She also shared thanks to her friends and family, giving a special shoutout to her grandmother before signing off with, "To the people around the world, well, the future is very bright if you dream big, believe in yourself, and believe in humanity."
The second in a series of private missions
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The Axiom-2 crew is slated to spend eight days docked with the ISS to participate in science, communication, and educational outreach projects before they return for a splashdown landing in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. The final splashdown zone selection will ultimately come down to weather conditions.
The Axiom-2 mission for Texas-based company Axiom Space is contracted with NASA as a series of short-duration private astronaut missions. SpaceX launched its first mission for Axiom last year with three businessmen and another retired NASA astronaut.
The third mission, Axiom-3, ordered with NASA, could launch as early as this fall. Beyond that, Axiom is planning to build its own free-flying space station in the coming years.
"This mission is the second in our series of bold missions to the International Space Station," Michael Suffredini, Axiom Space president and CEO, said last month. "These are really steps for us and a process to get ready to build our space station."
The first module of Axiom's station will launch and connect to the ISS late next year. Another module will follow that and, eventually, a power and cooling system. The multi-module Axiom Station is planned to disengage to become a free-flying commercial destination in space before NASA retires the ISS in 2030.
"We'll be able to work efficiently with NASA and be able to work towards a seamless transition from the International Space Station to the Axiom Space station when the ISS is retired," Suffredini said.
Poor weather forecast looms ahead of next SpaceX launch
The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket slated to launch from Florida will fly the BADR-8 communications satellite built by Airbus for telecommunications company Arabsat.
Liftoff is set between 11:20 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, and 1:27 a.m. EDT Wednesday, May 24, from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It will be the 26th launch from Florida this year. Liftoff will be followed about eight minutes later with a booster landing in the Atlantic Ocean.
Space Force forecasters, however, expect poor weather conditions during the launch window, predicting only a 30% chance of favorable conditions for liftoff.
"After a relatively lower coverage of showers and storms over the weekend, a slow-moving surface boundary will approach from the north, increasing moisture across the area," forecasters said in a report Monday. "Numerous showers and storms will develop across the peninsula and linger into the evening and overnight hours."
Although showers are expected, the primary concern for the overnight launch is the threat of cumulus and anvil clouds associated with thunderstorms that can produce lightning. While Falcon 9 can fly through some rain for most missions, the Eastern Range, controlled by the Space Force, bars any vehicle from lifting off if a threat of lightning is present.
Look for FLORIDA TODAY's live launch coverage to begin 90 minutes before liftoff at https://www.floridatoday.com/space/. For the latest, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.
Contact Jamie Groh at JGroh@floridatoday.com and follow her on Twitter at @AlteredJamie.
Launch Tuesday, May 23
Company / Agency: SpaceX for Arabsat
Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9
Location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Launch Time: Between 11:20 p.m. and 1:27 a.m. EDT
Trajectory: Northeast
Weather: 30% "go"
Landing: Drone ship
Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space
About: SpaceX will launch the BADR-8 communications satellite for Arabsat from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Airbus-built spacecraft will target a geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above Earth.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX's record-breaking private mission for Axiom docks with ISS
