Private Astronauts Splash Down After Space Station VisitThe first
all-private astronaut crew to visit the International Space Station (ISS) splashed down at 1:06 p.m. ET Monday, concluding a
17-day excursion marking NASA’s first collaboration with private companies on a space tourism mission, a milestone in the commercialization of space travel.
The four-person crew splashed down without incident in the Atlantic near Jacksonville, Florida, aboard a
SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.The mission, designated
AX-1, was commanded by former NASA astronaut
Michael Lopez-Alegría, 63, and included passengers
Larry Connor, 63, an Ohio real estate CEO,
Mark Pathy, 52, CEO of Canada-based investment firm Mavrik Corp, and
Eytan Stibbe, 64, an Israeli businessman.
NASA is working to arrange a
second Axiom-led private visit to the ISS, and for commercial accommodations to be attached to the station.
