In an exciting milestone for commercial space travel, the first all-European commercial crew is en route to the International Space Station (I.S.S.) after a successful evening launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida by SpaceX.

Unlike traditional NASA missions, this particular venture is funded by Axiom Space, a Houston-based company that is embarking on its third expedition carrying paying passengers to the I.S.S. Axiom has partnered with SpaceX to facilitate transportation to and from the orbital laboratory. The company has ambitious plans to construct its own space station in orbit, and these missions serve as crucial endeavors to aid in the planning and design process.

The initial attempt to launch the mission on Wednesday was postponed several hours before its scheduled flight. SpaceX and Axiom cited the need for additional time to conduct pre-launch checkouts and data analysis, specifically with regards to the parachute system energy modulator. However, the following day, SpaceX announced that "all systems are looking good" for the launch, providing no further details.

The crew capsule is expected to reach the I.S.S. within the next 36 hours, racing to catch up with the orbital laboratory as it orbits approximately 250 miles above the Earth's surface. Upon docking, the crew members will spend two weeks on the I.S.S., engaging in approximately 30 experiments encompassing microgravity research, technology demonstrations, and outreach engagements, as outlined by Axiom.

Dubbed Ax-3, this mission utilizes a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft named Freedom. This capsule has previously completed two spaceflights, both of which involved visits to the International Space Station (Crew-4 in 2022 and Ax-2 in 2023). In total, Freedom has spent an impressive 179 days in space.

Leading the Ax-3 crew is Michael López-Alegría, the chief astronaut of Axiom, who is a dual U.S.-Spanish citizen and a former NASA astronaut and I.S.S. commander. López-Alegría will assume the role of Ax-3 commander and will be accompanied by three paying passengers: Pilot Walter Villadei from the Italian Air Force, and mission specialists Alper Gezeravcı from Turkey and Marcus Wandt from Sweden, representing the European Space Agency.

For Gezeravcı, this mission marks a significant milestone as the first Turkish astronaut to journey into space. He expressed that this spaceflight signifies not just a destination but the beginning of a long and transformative journey into the vast expanse of space.

The Ax-3 crew will join the current seven occupants already on the I.S.S., further strengthening the international presence and collaboration on this remarkable scientific outpost orbiting our planet.