SpaceX's two manned space missions to the International Space Station have been delayed, including the launch of the private space travel "Double Flying Ten-Day Tour" as early as April 3, and the Crew-4, which cooperates with NASA, is currently expected to launch as early as April 19.
On March 18, NASA announced and SpaceX adjusted the timing of the launch of the manned space mission Crew-4 to the International Space Station, which is currently expected to be launched as early as April 19. NASA said this is to allow the appropriate spacing between manned space missions to operate launch and post-flight data reviews, allowing for multiple consecutive launch attempts to the International Space Station.
From left, robert Hines, Samantha Cristoforetti, Jessica Watkins, Kjell Lindgren.
The Crew-4 mission will be launched by the Falcon 9 rocket, and a new crew dragon spacecraft will send four astronauts to the International Space Station for a scientific expedition. Four were pilot Robert Hines, mission specialist Samantha Cristoforetti and Jessica Watkins, and Commander Kjell Lindgren.
Among them, Haynes, Watkins, and Lindgren are NASA astronauts, and Samantha Christofretti is an astronaut of the European Space Agency.
NASA said on the same day that Axiom Space, a private space tourism mission cooperated by Axiom Space and SpaceX, is also adjusting the time of launch to the International Space Station so that the team can complete the final spacecraft processing before the mission. The four space visitors to the Ax-1 mission will travel to the International Space Station in a manned Dragon spacecraft and return to splash off the Coast of Florida after 10 days in orbit.
Axiom Space said the mission launched as early as April 3 and lasted 10 days, 8 of which were on the International Space Station.
Members of the "space tour group" include former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría, American entrepreneur Larry Connor, Canadian investor Mark Pathy and Israeli businessman Eytan Stibbe.
Among them, Michael, who has traveled to space four times, left NASA in 2012 and is currently vice president of Axiomatomos Space and will serve as mission commander in the Ax-1 mission, Connor in his 70s as pilot, Canadian Passy and Israeli Stippi as mission experts.
And this isn't the first time SpaceX has done such a business. Last September, SpaceX launched its first national, purely commercial spaceflight "Inspiration 4", and American billionaire Jared Isaacman "chartered a boat" three-day four-person space tour.
The billionaire also partnered with SpaceX to launch the Polaris Program, which will conduct at least 3 spaceflights, complete the first spacewalk under a commercial mission, and end with the first manned mission of the Starship.