See amazing photos of SpaceX's Ax-1 private astronaut launch and mission
Axiom Space's private Ax-1 crew will ride a SpaceX spacecraft to the International Space Station in April 2022. They are (from left): pilot Larry Connor, mission specialist Mark Pathy, commander Michael López-Alegría and mission specialist Eytan Stibbe.
(Image credit: Axiom Space)
On Apr. 8, 2022, SpaceX and Houston company Axiom Space made history with the launch of Ax-1, the first all-private mission to the International Space Station.
SpaceX launched the four-person crew on a 10-day mission to space, which included an 8-day stay aboard the space station. The crew was commanded by former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría and additionally included pilot Larry Connor, mission specialist Mark Pathy and mission specialist Eytan Stibbe. The crew lauched onboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour from NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.
The mission is commanded by López-Alegría, who is both a former NASA astronaut and current Axiom employee, and he did not pay for his seat. However, the three other passengers on the private flight reportedly paid a collective $55 million for the trip.
Check out some impressive photos from the Ax-1 mission above by clicking on the arrows above to scroll through the gallery.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket that will fly the all-private Ax-1 astronaut mission to the International Space Station roll out to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on April 5, 2022.
(Image credit: SpaceX via Twitter)
The SpaceX Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket during the rollout to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Apr. 5, 2022. SpaceX posted photos of the rollout on Twitter (opens in new tab).
The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour is the first private spacecraft to take humans to the ISS. Private citizens have visited the station before, but they've always flown alongside government astronauts — specifically, employees of Roscosmos, Russia's federal space agency. Ax-1 will therefore blaze a new trail.
Another look at the Ax-1mission's SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket during their rollout on April 5, 2022.
(Image credit: SpaceX via Twitter)
Another look at the SpaceX Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket during the rollout to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Apr. 5, 2022. SpaceX posted photos of the rollout on Twitter (opens in new tab).
The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour is the first private spacecraft to take humans to the ISS. Private citizens have visited the station before, but they've always flown alongside government astronauts — specifically, employees of Roscosmos, Russia's federal space agency. Ax-1 will therefore blaze a new trail.
A zoomed-in view of the Artemis 1 stack (at right) and the Ax-1 mission, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft (on the left) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 6, 2022.
(Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
A view of the Ax-1 Falcon 9 and Dragon capsule (left) on KSC's Launch Pad 39A. Next door on Launch Pad 39B is the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule that will fly NASA's Artemis 1 mission.
The Ax-1 crew takes part in a launch dress rehearsal. From the left: Mark Pathy, Larry Connor, mission commander Michael López-Alegría and Eytan Stibbe.
(Image credit: Axiom Space)
The Ax-1 crew during a launch dress rehearsal, from left: Mark Pathy, Larry Connor, Michael Lopez-Alegria and Eytan Stibbe. Ax-1 is commanded by Michael López-Alegría, a former NASA astronaut and current Axiom employee. He's joined by three Axiom customers — Larry Connor, Mark Pathy and Eytan Stibbe, each of whom reportedly paid about $55 million for the trip.
NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft stacked on top is seen (to the right) on a mobile launcher on launch pad 39B on April 6, 2022 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) as the Artemis 1 launch team prepares for the next attempt of the wet dress rehearsal test. At left, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft stacked on top is seen on the Pad 39A at KSC ahead of the April 8 launch of the Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station.
(Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Another view of the Ax-1 Falcon 9 and Dragon capsule (left) on KSC's Launch Pad 39A. Next door on Launch Pad 39B is the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule that will fly NASA's Artemis 1 mission.
Ax-1 pilot, private astronaut Larry Connor is flying three items for the Armstrong Air & Space Museum, including a patch, a John Glenn campaign button and a segment of Kapton foil removed from the Apollo 11 command module that flew to the moon.
(Image credit: Armstrong Air & Space Museum)
Pilot Larry Connor borrowed several items from the Armstrong Air & Space Museum to take with him on the Ax-1 mission. The items include an Armstrong Air & Space Museum patch, a campaign button from John Glenn's run for the U.S. Senate and a segment of golden Kapton foil from the exterior of the Apollo 11 command module "Columbia" that flew to the moon.
The Ax-1 mission on the launch pad on April 8, 2022.
(Image credit: Axiom Space)
The Ax-1 mission on KSC's Launch Pad 39A on Apr. 8, 2022, with just under one hour to launch. The SpaceX Dragon capsule sits atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
A view of the Ax-1 mission hardware on the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida shortly before launch on April 8, 2022.
(Image credit: Axiom Space)
The Ax-1 mission on KSC's Launch Pad 39A on Apr. 8, 2022, with just under 12 minutes to launch. The SpaceX Dragon capsule sits atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
A view of the Ax-1 mission before launch on April 8, 2022.
(Image credit: Axiom Space)
The Ax-1 crew remains atop the Falcon 9 rockets as it continues to fuel up six minutes prior to launch. The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour is the first private spacecraft to take humans to the ISS.
The Ax-1 mission launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on April 8, 2022.
(Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The Ax-1 mission launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on April 8, 2022. SpaceX and Axiom Space made history with the launch of Ax-1, the first all-private mission to the International Space Station.
After the launch, astronauts entered a 10-hour rest period before beginning docking procedures with the International Space Station.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches Axiom Space's Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station on April 8, 2022.
(Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
The Ax-1 mission launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on April 8, 2022. SpaceX and Axiom Space made history with the launch of Ax-1, the first all-private mission to the International Space Station.
After the launch, astronauts entered a 10-hour rest period before beginning docking procedures with the International Space Station.
SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour, carrying the Ax-1 private astronaut crew for Axiom Space, docks at the International Space Station on April 9, 2022.
(Image credit: NASA TV)
On Apr. 9, 2022, SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour carrying the Ax-1 private astronaut crew for Axiom Space successfully docks at the International Space Station at 8:29 a.m. EDT (1229 GMT).
The docking was delayed about 44 minutes due to a video issue on the station, but everything went smoothly.
"I hope you enjoyed the extra half-orbit in Dragon or at least found it memorable," SpaceX flight controllers said after docking.
Daisy Dobrijevic joined Space.com in February 2022 as a reference writer having previously worked for our sister publication All About Space magazine as a staff writer. Before joining us, Daisy completed an editorial internship with the BBC Sky at Night Magazine and worked at the National Space Centre in Leicester, U.K., where she enjoyed communicating space science to the public. In 2021, Daisy completed a PhD in plant physiology and also holds a Master's in Environmental Science, she is currently based in Nottingham, U.K.
With contributions from
- Tariq Malik Editor-in-Chief
Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.