Ax-2 Private Space Mission to International Space Station | May 21, 2023
Channel: Hacking Space Frontier 
Date: 22/05/2023

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched at 5:37 p.m. EDT (2137 GMT)  May 21 from historic Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, kicking off Houston-based company Axiom Space's four-person Ax-2 mission.

Following a successful liftoff and staging, the first stage of Ax-2's Falcon 9 rocket performed a boost-back burn to return to SpaceX's Landing Zone-1, which is not far from Pad 39A. The booster touched down safely at the site about seven minutes and 45 seconds after launch.

Ax-2's SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, named Freedom, separated from the Falcon 9's upper stage about 12 minutes after liftoff as planned, spurring celebratory words from the mission's astronauts and the launch team.

"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 Ax-2 commander Peggy Whitson — a former NASA astronaut who has already spent more time in space (665 days) than any other American or any other woman — back to the final frontier.