In a major milestone for commercial space travel, SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, successfully launched the Ax-3 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in collaboration with Axiom Space, a space startup. The Crew Dragon capsule attached to the Falcon 9 rocket took off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center at 4:49 p.m. Eastern.

Following the launch, SpaceX confirmed that all systems were functioning as expected. The rocket reached its maximum pressure point, known as max Q, one minute after liftoff, and the booster separated from the main rocket as planned. The crew of four commercial astronauts now embarks on a 36-hour journey to the ISS, with a predicted docking time early on Saturday, Jan. 20.

Originally scheduled for Wednesday, the launch was delayed to allow SpaceX additional time for final checks and analysis on the rocket and crew capsule. This is Axiom's third commercial mission to the ISS, as part of their efforts to gather data and conduct research in order to build their own space station in the future, eventually replacing the ISS.

The crew of the Ax-3 mission consists of four male astronauts, including Alper Gezeravci, the first Turkish astronaut to go to space, and Michael López-Alegría, a former NASA astronaut serving as Axiom Space commander. During their time aboard the ISS, which could be up to two weeks, the astronauts will conduct more than 30 scientific experiments, ranging from taste-testing pasta to investigating ways to enhance human survival off Earth.

The successful launch of Ax-3 highlights NASA's commitment to international and public-private collaboration in space exploration. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed his optimism for the future, envisioning a scenario where multiple private space stations replace the single NASA-operated ISS. Axiom Space is among the companies working towards this goal, with support from NASA and the dedication to building their own space stations for low-Earth orbit.

As this exciting mission unfolds, further updates will be provided. It is a testament to the advancements in commercial space travel and the growing cooperation between private entities and government agencies. The success of Ax-3 marks another significant step towards a future where space exploration is not limited to a single entity, but expanded to include multiple stations and collaborations.

Note: This article is based on the information provided and will be updated as more details emerge.