JAKARTA - NASA's space tourism mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has reportedly been postponed.
The mission, dubbed Ax-1, was initiated by the aerospace company Axiom Space based in Texas, United States (US). The mission was supposed to launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, April 3, but was rescheduled for Wednesday, April 6.
Apparently, NASA prefers to prepare for its mission to the Moon Artemis I at a nearby launch pad, causing the Ax-1 mission to be delayed.
On the Ax-1 mission, three amateur astronauts will fly in the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft powered into orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket. The three astronauts include Canadian investor and philanthropist Mark Pathy, American businessman Larry Connor, and former Israeli Air Force pilot Eytan Stibbe.
The three are reported to have paid about $55 million each for the 10-day trip to stay on the ISS. All the amateur astronauts will be accompanied by mission commander Michael López-Alegría and a former NASA astronaut.
“This pioneering group of space crews, the first of its kind, represents a defining moment in mankind's eternal pursuit of exploration and progress," López-Alegría said recently.
All crew members have undergone months of intensive training for the mission which will involve conducting various research and technology demonstrations under microgravity conditions, as well as enjoying stunning views of Earth 250 miles below.
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The ISS will be busier than usual when they arrive. Normally, the ISS is home to about six or seven astronauts from various countries, but when the Ax-1 crew arrives, that number will increase to 11 people.
As part of final preparations for the Ax-1, NASA will conduct a static fire test of the Falcon 9 rocket engine on Monday, April 4, two days before launch.
“I know from direct experience that what humans encounter in space is profound and prompts them to make more meaningful contributions when they return to Earth. I look forward to leading this crew and their subsequent meaningful and productive contribution to the human story, both in orbit and at home," López-Alegría said as quoted by Digital Trends, Wednesday, March 30.
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