Rich trio back on Earth after charter trip to space station

3 abundant entrepreneurs are back in the world with their astronaut escort after a costly journey to the International Space StationBy MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace WriterApril 25, 2022, 5:15 PM – 3 minutes readShare to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.– Three rich business people returned from the International Space Station with their astronaut escort Monday, covering up a costly trip that marked NASAs launching as a B&B host.Flying back in a SpaceX pill, they crashed in the Atlantic off the Florida coast to liquidate a 17-day tour that cost them $55 million apiece.The trip was expected to last a little over a week, but dicey weather kept the visitors in orbit practically two times as long as intended.Before departing the spaceport station Sunday night, the group thanked their 7 hosts, including 3 NASA astronauts whose own mission is nearing an end.It was the very first time NASA opened its space hatches to tourists after shunning the practice perfected over the years by Russia. Last fall, a Russian movie crew flew up, followed by a Japanese style mogul and his assistant. In each case, an active-duty cosmonaut took a trip with them.The most current guests were accompanied by a previous NASA astronaut now working for Axiom Space, the Houston business in charge of the flight, making it the very first totally private journey to the area station.After hosting longer than anticipated, NASA was itching to make space for the next crew. SpaceX will attempt to launch 3 NASA astronauts and one Italian to the space station as quickly as Wednesday. Theyll replace the 3 Americans and a German up there considering that November who will head back to Earth in their own SpaceX capsule.The speed is blazingly quickly by NASA standards. “Its definitely interesting,” said NASA flight director Zeb Scoville.Axiom managed the logistics for the trip for its three paying clients: American property tycoon Larry Connor; Canadian personal equity CEO Mark Pathy; and Israeli investor Eytan Stibbe of Tel Aviv. Their chaperone was Michael Lopez-Alegria, an Axiom vice president who flew to space 4 times while a NASA astronaut.Lopez-Alegria stated it was an “amazing experience that weve had, even longer and more interesting than we thought. “Axiom coordinated with SpaceX for the journey that started with an April 8 liftoff from NASAs Kennedy Space Center. It was SpaceXs second private flight, coming simply months after a billionaires orbital jaunt with contest winners.While in area, the visitors did experiments and peered back at Earth.”Its been mind-blowing in numerous methods,” Pathy stated, “that I think will have such an enduring effect on my life.”The experience was specifically individual for Stibbe. He functioned as a fighter pilot under Ilan Ramon, Israels very first astronaut who passed away aboard space shuttle bus Columbia in 2003. Stibbe flew copies of the surviving pages of Ramons space diary, as well as art work and music produced by Ramons kids. He celebrated Passover with matzah bread he took up and gefilte fish offered by the stations Russians.Axioms 2nd flight is set for early next year as the company expects having its own space station by 2030.—— The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives assistance from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is exclusively accountable for all material.

Three rich business people are back on Earth with their astronaut escort after an expensive journey to the International Space StationBy MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace WriterApril 25, 2022, 5:15 PM – 3 minutes readShare to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.– Three rich business people returned from the International Space Station with their astronaut escort Monday, wrapping up a costly journey that marked NASAs launching as a B&B host.Flying back in a SpaceX pill, they sprinkled down in the Atlantic off the Florida coast to close out a 17-day trip that cost them $55 million apiece.The journey was supposed to last a little over a week, however dicey weather kept the visitors in orbit nearly twice as long as intended.Before departing the space station Sunday night, the group thanked their seven hosts, including three NASA astronauts whose own mission is nearing an end.It was the very first time NASA opened its area hatches to tourists after avoiding the practice refined over the decades by Russia. In each case, an active-duty cosmonaut took a trip with them.The most current guests were accompanied by a previous NASA astronaut now working for Axiom Space, the Houston company in charge of the flight, making it the very first fully personal journey to the area station.After hosting longer than anticipated, NASA was itching to make space for the next crew. SpaceX will try to release three NASA astronauts and one Italian to the space station as quickly as Wednesday.