SpaceX Plans to Launch Astronaut and Three Paying Passengers to Orbit

SpaceX is preparing for the launch of four passengers, including three paying customers, who will embark on a weeklong journey to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission, named AX-2 and organized by Houston-based company Axiom, will be the second all-private mission to the ISS. Notably, stem cell researcher Rayyanah Barnawi will become the first woman from Saudi Arabia to travel to space.

The launch will be livestreamed on YouTube and coverage will begin on NASA TV. Liftoff is expected from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Weather conditions will be closely monitored, as Florida's summer wet season brings daily thunderstorms. However, the weather for Sunday's launch is looking favorable, with the only concern being potential anvil clouds from thunderstorms.

In case the launch does not occur on Sunday, SpaceX has the option to make another attempt on Monday. However, there is an 80% chance that the weather won't be suitable. Further delays may occur due to a SpaceX cargo mission that NASA needs to prioritize.

The AX-2 mission aims to encourage private sector participation in spaceflight, particularly in low Earth orbit where the ISS is located. The crew will be led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who now works for Axiom. Whitson will become the first woman to command a private spaceflight. The crew will also include three paying customers: John Shoffner, an American telecom business entrepreneur, and two citizens of Saudi Arabia, Barnawi and Ali AlQarni, a fighter pilot.

The crew will spend approximately eight days on the space station, during which they will conduct over 20 investigations and scientific projects, including stem cell and biomedical research. Whitson, who holds the US record for the most cumulative days in space, will be returning to the space station for the first time since 2017. The Crew Dragon capsule, an autonomous spacecraft, is expected to dock with the space station early Monday, allowing the passengers to join the seven astronauts already aboard.

Axiom's goal is to make private space missions routine and provide more opportunities for non-professional astronauts to experience spaceflight. The company envisions continuing private spaceflight even after the retirement of the ISS, with plans to establish a new privately owned space station. NASA supports this effort as it seeks to enhance private sector involvement in near-Earth activities and focus on deep-space exploration.

During the mission, the AX-2 crew will work alongside professional astronauts on the space station, with guidance from the existing crew members. While they will have access to certain areas, such as the kitchen and bathroom, some sections, including the airlock for spacewalks, will remain restricted.