By Zoya Saleem
May 22, 2024
SpaceX launches Ax-2 Private Astronaut mission to ISS carrying a Saudi Arabian woman for the first time ever.
A SpaceX second Axiom Falcon 9 launched on May 21, 5:37 p.m. EDT ( May 22, 3:07 a.m. IST) marks another historic achievement after the Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket used by Ax-2 successfully launched and staged before executing a boost-back burn to return to SpaceX’s Landing Zone-1, which is close to Pad 39A. Seven minutes and 45 seconds after launch, the booster safely landed at the location.
Watch video of Launch: https://youtu.be/31nc8hfspgo
Mission Launched
The crew for this privately-funded trip consists of former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Tennessee resident John Shoffner, and Saudi Arabian citizens Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Alqarni. The crew will launch in a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket-powered Dragon spacecraft. The 12-day mission would include 10 days spent doing scientific research within the International Space Station (ISS).
For this flight, the Falcon 9 rocket will make a landing on Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Image source: Space.com
Beyond just hiring spacecraft, Axiom Space has other goals. The business is currently developing a private space station that will launch modules to the ISS to launch it. When enough of these modules are connected, Axiom’s station will separate from the ISS and establish itself as a stand-alone low-Earth orbit location.
Beyond just hiring spacecraft, Axiom Space has other goals. The business is currently developing a private space station that will launch modules to the ISS to launch it. When enough of these modules are connected, Axiom’s station will separate from the ISS and establish itself as a stand-alone low-Earth orbit location.
Saudi’s First Woman Astronaut
Rayyanah Barnawi, a stem cell researcher, a breast cancer survivor, became the first Saudi Arabian woman to travel to space. Ali al-Qarni, a fighter pilot with the Royal Saudi Air Force, joined her.
Since a Saudi royal launched on shuttle Discovery in 1985, Barnawi and Al-Qarni are the first people from their nation to ride a rocket.
“This is a dream come true for everyone,” Barnawi said before the flight.
Image Source: The Indian Express
Shoffner and Saudi Arabia are paying for the anticipated 10-day mission, but Axiom won’t disclose how much. The business has previously stated that each ticket would cost $55 million.
Axiom-3, ordered with NASA, could launch as early as this autumn.
In addition, Axiom Space intends to construct its own autonomous space station in the upcoming years.
Late next year, the first station module from Axiom will take off and join the ISS. Then another module and eventually a power and cooling system will come after that. Before NASA retires the International Space Station in 2030, the multi-module Axiom Station is scheduled to disconnect and become a free-flying private space station.
