SpaceX is sending a new team of tourists aboard the ISS, this time as part of the Ax-2 mission. You can watch the take-off live.
The launch in a nutshell
- What ? Sending tourists aboard the ISS;
- When ? May 21, 2023, at 11:37 p.m. (Paris time);
- Or ? From Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
What is the mission?
Ax-2 is the second civilian space mission conducted jointly by SpaceX and Axiom Space. In short, it is a question of transporting tourists aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for a stay of a few days. The first mission of this type, Ax-1, took place in April 2022. The crew of Ax-1 remained in orbit for a fortnight.
SpaceX is responsible for transporting and repatriating astronauts. The company will use a Falcon 9 rocket to launch a Dragon capsule into space. It will then dock with the ISS for the duration of the stay. Then, the four members will return to Earth with this vehicle. Their race will end in the ocean, where a ship will be deployed to the area to pick them up.
In fact, however, there is one crew member who is a space professional. This is Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut. Aged 63, she is one of the most seasoned: she has spent almost 666 days in space, and carried out more than 60 hours of work in an astronaut suit, spread over more than 10 extravehicular outings.
Peggy Whitson will serve as captain. She will also supervise the American John Shoffner, who holds the position of pilot (the maneuvers are generally automated), and Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi. These two Saudis are mission specialists. For these three, this is their very first flight into space.
The Axiom missions are a certain shift for SpaceX. Until 2021, the American company only offered “professional” missions with astronauts employed by NASA or by a partner space agency – Russian, European, Japanese or Canadian. Several other Ax missions are expected, in 2023 and 2024.
When does take-off take place?
The American space agency indicated, in a stage update on May 12, that the launch is scheduled for Sunday, May 21, at 11:37 p.m. (Paris time).
How to see SpceX’s Ax-2 Flight Departure
NASA will broadcast the liftoff via its official channel on YouTube.
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