SpaceX’s next private spaceflight will launch four astronauts to the International Space Station on Sunday, May 21, and you can watch the mission live online in a series of free webcasts.
THE Mission Ax-2 is the second fully private flight to the resort by SpaceX for the company Axiom space and will launch from Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Take-off is scheduled for 5:37 p.m. EDT (9:37 p.m. GMT) Sunday. You can follow it live with our Ax-2 Mission Updates page.
The Ax-2 mission is commanded by a former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, with a paying customer – investor and entrepreneur John Shoffner – serving as the pilot. Saudi Arabia flies two of its newest astronauts, Ali AlQarni and Rayyanah Barnawi, to the station on the flight, with Barnawi slated to become the first Saudi woman to fly in space. Here’s how to watch their 10-day mission, including eight days on the space station.
Sunday, May 21: webcast of the launch of Ax-2
NASA and SpaceX will each offer live webcasts of the Ax-2 astronaut launch, with SpaceX’s live broadcast beginning at 2:00 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT). Space.com will simultaneously broadcast the launch on our website and on this page.
SpaceX YouTube Live Stream is set to show the Ax-2 crew as they prepare for flight in their sleek spacesuits, drive to the launch pad in black Tesla electric cars, and board their Dragon Freedom capsule. Takeoff is at 5:37 p.m. EDT (9:23 p.m. GMT)and is expected to include coverage of the first stage of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket returning to Earth to attempt a landing on the company’s pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The NASA YouTube Live Stream will begin to 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT) and crossing takeoff just over an hour later.
“Today’s launch coverage is led by Axiom Space, with support from NASA and SpaceX; NASA’s primary mission responsibilities begin during Freedom’s approach to the International Space Station, the start of integrated operations Ax-2”, NASA explained for webcast.
Monday, May 22: Ax-2 Dragon docking – 7:30 a.m. ET
The AX-2 crew will arrive at the International Space Station on Monday, May 22 at 9:24 a.m. EDT (1:24 p.m. GMT)but you will be able to observe their approach for almost two hours before they dock.
NASA will provide a live webcast on May 22 at 7:30 a.m. EDT (11:30 a.m. GMT) to chronicle the approach and docking of the Dragon Freedom on NASA TV and through his YouTube channel. The livestream will not end with docking. Instead, NASA will continue to webcast the activities of the Ax-2 crew as they open the hatches between their Dragon and the station.
The hatch opening is intended for 11:13 a.m. EDT (3:13 p.m. GMT). The four astronauts of Ax-2 will then share some “words of welcome” to 11:45 a.m. EDT (3:45 p.m. GMT)NASA officials said.
Undocking and landing of the Ax-2
Although SpaceX, Axiom Space and NASA have not released a timetable for the return of the Ax-2 crew to Earth, it is likely that at least the undocking of the International Space Station will be broadcast live. on the web, if not the landing itself.
The Ax-2 mission is expected to last around 10 days, placing its undocking around May 31, with a splashdown expected shortly after. Once we get more specific details on the mission timeline, we’ll be sure to update this page with all undocking and landing live stream events.