NASA is about to embark on its first space tourism mission to the International Space Station (ISS), and you can watch the entire event as it happens.
Organized by Texas-based Axiom Space and using SpaceX hardware, the 10-day mission will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at lunchtime on Friday, April 8.
The crew comprises Canadian investor and philanthropist Mark Pathy, American entrepreneur Larry Connor, and former Israeli Air Force pilot Eytan Stibbe, together with mission commander and former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría.
Pathy, Connor, and Stibbe have reportedly paid an astonishing $55 million for the trip of a lifetime.
The crewmembers have undergone months of intensive training for the Ax-1 mission and will spend their time in orbit conducting scientific research as well as outreach and commercial activities.
What to expect
Multiple cameras will livestream Friday’s events at the launch site. It’s likely to include the spacefarers making their to the Crew Dragon capsule, taking their seats, and making final preparations for the all-important launch that will see SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9 rocket blast the capsule and crew toward the ISS.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft will arrive at the space station early on Saturday, April 9.
How to watch
The Ax-1 mission will launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 11:17 a.m. ET (8:17 a.m. PT) on Friday, April 8.
You can watch events by firing up the video player embedded at the top of this page, or by visiting SpaceX’s live feed, which will carry the same content. The broadcast will start at around 7:45 a.m. ET (4:45 a.m. PT).
Changes to the schedule could occur due to poor weather conditions or last-minute technical issues. Check NASA’s Twitter feed for the latest updates.
Docking with the ISS is expected to take place at around 6:45 a.m. ET (3:45 a.m. PT) on Saturday, April 9. The livestream will include the hatch opening and welcoming ceremony as the Ax-1 crew enters the ISS for the first time.
To get you in the mood for the launch of Ax-1, check out NASA’s recently released cinematic trailer for the upcoming mission.
