SpaceX Launches Axiom Space Ax-2 Crew Mission To The Space Station

[Update]  Axiom Space Astronauts Traveling Aboard SpaceX Dragon, Arrive At The Space Station

After Dragon Freedom Hatch opening at 1500 UTC, and astronauts inside the space station opened their own hatch on the space-facing port of NASA's Harmony connecting node, the four Ax-2 astronauts officially floated onto the orbiting laboratory. They're welcomed aboard by a seven-person team already on the station as part of Expedition 69, with broad smiles and handshakes all around.

Ax-2 commander Peggy Whitson was the first to enter the station. Pilot John Shoffner was next. Then Saudi Space Commission astronaut Ali AlQarni was next followed by fellow Saudi astronaut Rayyanah Barnawi.

A welcoming ceremony was held for the Ax-2 astronauts.

Over the eight-day mission, the crew will conduct science experiments and studies on among other things, new communication systems, radiation-shielding polymers and degradation of mRNA in space.

Ax-2 crew will return to earth next week. Freedom will undock from the space station around May 30, then deorbit and splash down off the coast of Florida.

WATCH Ax-2 mission astronauts float onto the space station.

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[Update]  SpaceX Ax-2 Mission Capsule Docks With The Space Station

Dragon Freedom autonomously docked with the space station on Monday at 1312 UTC, as both spacecraft sailed 262 miles above and to the northeast of Japan. This ends the capsule's nearly 17-hour orbital chase of the ISS, after liftoff on Sunday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to SpaceX, this is the fastest docking time to date(15 hours, 45 minutes from liftoff from earth to soft capture by the space station), beating previous record by 9 minutes. Hard capture has also been confirmed, securing the capsule to the Harmony module's zenith port.

Freedom captured a brilliant view of the station as it approached for docking.

On its flight to the space station, Freedom executed a series of burns that positioned the vehicle progressively closer to the station before it performed final docking maneuvers. This will be followed by pressurization of the vestibule, hatch opening, and Ax-2 crew entrance to the ISS.

Aboard Freedom are 4 private astronauts Peggy Whitson, John Shoffner, Ali AlQarni and Rayyanah Barnawi. "That's the softest docking I've ever had," said Ax-2 commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut who also flew to the station on a NASA space shuttle and Russian Soyuz capsule.

They astronauts were apparently so thrilled while in space, after reaching orbit overnight, they almost forgot to look out the window.

Ax-2 pilot Shoffner said the experience of weightlessness after the ride into orbit was "an amazing feeling," during a short live video chat with SpaceX's Mission Control.

"We were all pretty busy getting dressed and getting all of our gear out that we forgot to look out the window for a couple of minutes," Shoffner said. "But it's amazing feeling really enjoying it. We're going to have an awesome experience."

Barnawi and her Saudi crewmate AlQarni shared excited messages to home in Arabic, then translated them for their viewers.

"Hello from outer space! It feels amazing to be viewing Earth from this capsule.," Barnawi said, as she thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their support. "And to the people around the world, well, the future is very bright and I would like you to dream big, believe in yourself and believe in humanity."

The four astronauts will be welcomed by 7 astronauts currently inhabiting the space station.

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[Update]  LIFTOFF: SpaceX Launches Ax-2 Mission Astronauts To The Space Station

SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft lifted off at 2137 UTC on Sunday(May 21), atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Aboard are four private astronauts Peggy Whitson, John Shoffner, and Saudi Arabian astronauts Ali AlQarni and Rayyanah Barnawi.

Following stage separation and about 8 minutes after launch, the Falcon 9 rocket's 1st stage landed at Landing Zone 1(LZ-1), SpaceX's landing pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It was the first time the company has landed a rocket on land after a crewed launch.

Dragon Freedom which is now heading to the International Space Station, separated from the Falcon 9's upper stage about 12 minutes after liftoff as planned.

"Thanks for putting your trust in the Falcon 9 team," SpaceX chief engineer Bill Gerstenmaier told the Ax-2 crew just after the milestone moment. "Hope you enjoyed the ride to space. Have a great trip on Dragon."

Gerstenmaier then welcomed Whitson -- who has already spent more time in space (665 days) than any other American or any other woman -- back to the final frontier. "Good to be here," Whitson responded. "It was a phenomenal ride!"

Dragon Freedom will spend the night chasing down the space station, for a docking scheduled to occur at 1324 UTC on Monday (May 22). It will take about 15 hours for the crew to reach the orbiting laboratory, before they doff their spacesuits, have their first meal in space and try to get some rest.

During their eight-day stay on the space station, the Ax-2 crewmembers will live and work alongside the seven astronauts currently inhabiting the ISS but will be conducting independent research investigations. One Ax-2 experiment, organized by the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), involves a series of tests and measurements of their own bodies.

This is the first time in space for AlQarni and Barnawi and they're the first Saudi astronauts to visit the ISS. It is also Shoffner's first time in space --  a realization of a lifelong dream, and a giant leap from the "astronaut club" he formed with other children in his neighborhood when he was young. The Alaskan-born businessman is the first person from that state to reach orbit, according to SpaceX.

Stay for updates on the Ax-2 mission...

WATCH the launch of Ax-2 mission

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