SpaceX launched a spacecraft into space carrying four tourists, including a woman, the first from Saudi Arabia to fly into space.
As reported by Space.com, the flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the 39A platform of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida began on May 21 at 17:37 EDT (Yerevan time on May 22 at 01:37 ), it launched Houston-based company Axiom Space's Ax-2 mission into space.
After the successful launch, the first stage of the rocket developed the necessary speed, after which it was disconnected and returned to the SpaceX-1 landing site, which is located near the 39A platform. The missile landed safely about 7 minutes and 45 seconds after launch. About 12 minutes after launch, SpaceX's Ax-2 Dragon spacecraft, named Freedom, separated from the Falcon 9 second stage rocket and continued its flight.
The spacecraft's commander is Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and the first female commander of the International Space Station (ISS). She is known to have spent 665 days in space, more time than any other American or any other woman.
With her are Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi, the first astronauts from Saudi Arabia to visit the ISS, and Barnawi is the first Saudi woman ever to go into space. Also involved in the Ax-2 mission is businessman and STEAM supporter John Shoffner, who is taking a paid seat on the spacecraft. This is Schoffner's first flight into space, which is his biggest dream. According to SpaceX, Schoffner, who was born in Alaska, became the first person from that state to go into orbit.
The spacecraft headed to the ITC, where the arrival is scheduled at 16:24 Yerevan time. The crew members will spend eight days on the space station, during which they will live and work alongside the seven astronauts who currently live on the ISS.
