All private SpaceX astronaut work goes home after a week delay

The work was brokered by a Houston, Texas-based startup Axium space. The company booked rocket rides, provided all the necessary training and coordinated flights to the ISS for anyone who could purchase it – and still hopes this will be the first task for many. The aircraft has four crew members – Michael Lopez-Alegria, an Axis employee who became a former NASA astronaut, who heads the mission; And three paying customers: Israeli businessman Eytan Stibbe; Canadian investor Mark Patty; And Larry Connor, an Ohio-based real estate tycoon.

Splash Down is considered the most dangerous extension of the return task. The Crew Dragon capsule traveled over 17,000 miles per hour, and when it reached its final stage, the outside of the Crew Dragon capsule warmed up to about 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit, cutting it back into the densest part of the Earth’s atmosphere. Inside the spacecraft chamber, the passengers were protected by a thermal shield and the temperature must be below 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

The crew then dispatched sets of parachutes when the dragon fell into the Atlantic Ocean. Rescue crews are now waiting near the Splash Town base to tow the spacecraft out to sea and into a special boat called the “Dragon’s Nest” where final security checks will take place before the crew disembarks.

AX-1, Launched on April 8thInitially charged as a 10-day mission, but eventually extended to about 17 days, of which 15 were ISS.
During their first days at the space station, the crew stuck to a regiment schedule, which included operations of about 14 hours a day. Scientific research That was Designed by various research hospitals, universities, technology institutes and many more. Spend time doing outreach events through video conferencing with kids and students.
Weather delays gave them “a little more time to absorb significant views of the blue planet and to reconsider the vast range of missions that were successfully completed during the mission.” Theory.
It is not clear how much this work will cost. Axiom has previously released a price $ 55 million per seat For a 10-day trip to the ISS, but the company declined to comment on the terms of funding for this particular mission beyond what it said at a press conference last year that the price was “tens of thousands.”
This mission is made possible by the very close integration between Axiom, SpaceX and NASA, as it is funded and operated by the ISS Government. And the aerospace company has revealed some details About how much it costs to use its 20-year-old orbit lab.

For each mission, it would cost business clients $ 5.2 million to bring in the necessary support from NASA astronauts, and another $ 4.8 million for all work support and planning provided by NASA. While in space, it only costs $ 2,000 per person per day for food. It costs $ 88,000 to $ 164,000 a day for a business team to get to and from the space station.

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But NASA reports that the extra days the AX-1 crew spent in space due to the weather will not add to their personal overall price index.

“NASA is aware that the intentions of the International Space Station, such as recent Russian space travel or meteorological challenges, may cause delayed delays and there is no need to repay for further Antok delays,” the report said.

The AX-1, like Russia, is not the first time that customers have been paid or that non-astronauts have gone to the ISS. Seats for sale On its Soyuz spacecraft Seekers of various affluent pleasures In the past years.
A crew of 11 on the International Space Station on April 9, 2022.  Bottom right to left: Expedition 67 Commander Tom Marshburn Aeronautical Engineers Oleg Artemiev, Denis Madveev, Sergei Korsakov, Raja Sari, Kayla Barron and Matthias Maurer;  And Axiom Mission 1 astronauts (center row from left) Mark Pathi, Aidan Stebe, Larry Connor and Michael Lopez-Alexria.

But that was first with the AX-1 A group of civilians who were not active members of the government astronaut team with them in the capsule on their way to and from the ISS. This is the first time private citizens have visited the ISS on a US-made spacecraft.

The mission has sparked another round of debate over whether astronauts should be referred to as “astronauts”, although the ISS mission requires more investment than spending time and money. A brief subarbital ride on a rocket built by such companies Blue look Or Virgin Galactic.
Lopez-Alegria, a senior Four missions into space between 1995 and 2007 During his time with NASA, he said: “This mission is very different from what you’ve heard on recent – especially subarbital – missions. We’re not space tourists. I think there’s a major role in that.
Although paying clients do not receive astronaut wings from the US government, they have been awarded the “Universal Astronaut Insignia” – a gold pin recently designed by the International Association of Astronauts Association. Includes astronauts from 38 countries. Lopez-Alegria gave their needles to Stebe, Pathi and Connor at a reception after the group. Arrived At the space station.

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