In this infrared video provided by SpaceX, the Dragon space capsule uses parachutes as it descends into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida on Monday, April 25, 2022. Three wealthy businessmen returned from the International Space Station with their escorted astronauts packed to an expensive trip that marked NASA’s debut as host of the B&B. Credit: SpaceX via AP
Three wealthy businessmen returned from the International Space Station with their escort astronauts on Monday, completing an expensive trip that marked NASA’s debut as host of the B&B.
Flying back into a SpaceX capsule, they scattered across the Atlantic coast off the coast of Florida to complete a 17-day $ 55 million tour.
The trip was supposed to last a little over a week, but bad weather kept visitors in orbit for almost twice as long as expected.
“Welcome back to planet Earth,” SpaceX Mission Control of Southern California said on the radio. “We hope you enjoyed the extra few days in space.”
“An amazing mission,” said real estate mogul Larry Connor.
Before leaving the space station on Sunday night, the group thanked its seven hosts, including three NASA astronauts whose mission is coming to an end.
This was the first time NASA opened its space hatches to tourists after abandoning a practice perfected by Russia over the decades. Last fall, a Russian film crew flew in, followed by a Japanese fashion mogul and his assistant. In any case, an active astronaut traveled with them.
The latest guests were accompanied by a former NASA astronaut who now works for Axiom Space, the Houston-based flight company, making it his first fully private trip to the space station.
In this infrared video provided by SpaceX, recovery personnel approach the Dragon space capsule after falling into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida on Monday, April 25, 2022. Three wealthy businessmen returned from the International Space Station with their escort astronauts packed to an expensive trip that marked NASA’s debut as host of the B&B. Credit: SpaceX via AP
After hosting longer than expected, NASA was angry to make room for the next crew. SpaceX will try to launch three NASA astronauts and an Italian to the space station on Wednesday. They will replace the three Americans and a German there from November, who will return to Earth in their own SpaceX capsule.
The pace is incredibly fast by NASA standards. “This is absolutely exciting,” said NASA Flight Director Zeb Scoville.
Axiom handled travel logistics for its three paying customers: Connor of Dayton, Ohio; Canadian Private Capital Executive Director Mark Patty; and Israeli investor Eitan Stibe of Tel Aviv. They were accompanied by Michael Lopez-Allegria, Axiom’s vice president, who flew in space four times while a NASA astronaut.
“It was an amazing adventure we had, even longer and more exciting than we thought,” Lopez-Allegria said after leaving the space station.
Axiom teamed up with SpaceX for the voyage, which began on April 8 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. It was SpaceX’s second private flight, coming just months after the billionaire’s orbital walk with the contest winners.
While in space, visitors experimented and peered into Earth.
“It opened my eyes in so many ways,” Patty said, “that I think it’s going to have such a lasting impact on my life.”
This photo, provided by SpaceX, shows the SpaceX crew aboard the Dragon spacecraft on Friday, April 8, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Axiom was in charge of logistics for the trip. On the left are Canadian private equity chief executive Mark Patty, US real estate mogul Larry Connor; Michael Lopez-Allegria, Axiom’s vice president who has flown four times while a NASA astronaut, and Israeli investor Eitan Stibe of Tel Aviv. They are due to return to Earth on Monday, April 25, 2022, after a trip to the International Space Station. Credit: SpaceX via AP, file
The experience was especially personal for Stibbe. He served as a fighter pilot for Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first astronaut to die aboard the Colombia space shuttle in 2003.
Stiby flies with copies of the surviving pages of Ramon’s space diary, as well as works of art and music created by Ramon’s children. He celebrated Easter with the maca bread he took and the gefilte fish offered by the Russians at the station.
Axiom’s second flight is scheduled for early next year, as the company expects to have its own space station by 2030.
The crew of the first private flight to the ISS returns to Earth
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