Axiom AX-1 crew successfully dock at ISS after short delay

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By WHIO Staff

MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA — SpaceX’s Axiom Space’s Ax-1 mission successfully docked at the International Space Station on Saturday.

The Dragon Endeavour, which launched from Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39-A on Friday, docked to the ISS at 8:29 a.m. after a short delay due to a video issue.

It’s the first-ever private crew to be sent into space to travel to the ISS, and local entrepreneur Larry Connor is on board.

>> Local entrepreneur, Larry Connor, to pilot first-ever private mission to International Space Station

Connor, founder of The Connor Group, has achieved more than a thousand hours of training for this mission over the last nine months.

“This is a culmination of over nine months of training. I’ve got 1,050 hours of training between SpaceX, NASA, and Axiom, so we are ready to go,” Connor told News Center 7 ahead of the mission.

Connor began flying in 2007 and has flown 16 different aircraft, including an F-5 fighter jet.

The Associated Press reported Connor and the other people onboard the spacecraft paid $55 million each for the rocket ride and accommodations, including meals.

>> SpaceX launches 3 visitors to space station for $55M each

Joining Connor for the flight is former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, who also is the VP of Axiom. Also flying to space aboard the private will be Eytan Stibbe, of Isreal, and Mark Pathy, of Canada.

The four-person crew is expected to spend eight days at the ISS. The team will be doing research as well as outreach. Some of the research includes studying cancer cells and working with an air purification device.

Axiom Launch

SpaceX and Axiom launch first civilian crew to ISS for 10 days Action News Jax at Noon

Axiom Space Launch Axiom Space Launch

Axiom Launch

SpaceX Axiom Space’s Ax-1 crew This photo provided by SpaceX shows the SpaceX crew seated in the Dragon spacecraft on Friday, April 8, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. SpaceX is scheduled to launch three rich businessmen and their astronaut escort to the International Space Station for more than a week’s stay. (SpaceX via AP) (AP)

Axiom Launch

Axiom Mission 1 rocket Axiom Mission 1 rocket and the SLS on their launch pads at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. (NASA/Joel Kowsky/(NASA/Joel Kowsky))

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Here’s how to stay up to date with the mission:

The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, and the Armstrong Air and Space Museum are inviting people to watch the launch live.

Starting at 10:30 a.m. the Neil Armstrong museum plans to open up the museum’s STEM center for the public to watch the launch.

At 11:00 a.m. the Boonshoft will also be opening up its planetarium for viewing the launch.

Both events are open to the public.