SpaceX launched three rich businessmen and their astronaut escort to the International Space Station on Friday for more than a weekB次元官网网址檚 stay, as NASA joins Russia in hosting guests at the worldB次元官网网址檚 most expensive tourist destination.

ItB次元官网网址檚 SpaceXB次元官网网址檚 first private charter flight to the orbiting lab after two years of carrying astronauts there for NASA.

Arriving at the space station Saturday are an American, a Canadian and an Israeli who run investment, real estate and other companies. TheyB次元官网网址檙e paying $55 million apiece for the rocket ride and accommodations, all meals included.

Russia has been hosting tourists at the space station B次元官网网址� and before that the Mir station B次元官网网址� for decades. Just last fall, a flew up, followed by a

NASA is finally getting into the act, after years of opposing space station visitors.

B次元官网网址淚t was a hell of a ride and weB次元官网网址檙e looking forward to the next 10 days,B次元官网网址� said former NASA astronaut and chaperone Michael Lopez-Alegria on reaching orbit.

The visitorsB次元官网网址� tickets include access to all but the Russian portion of the space station B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檒l need permission from the three cosmonauts on board. Three Americans and a German also live up there.

Lopez-Alegria plans to avoid talking about politics and the war in Ukraine while heB次元官网网址檚 at the space station.

B次元官网网址淚 honestly think that it wonB次元官网网址檛 be awkward. I mean maybe a tiny bit,B次元官网网址� he said. He expects the B次元官网网址渟pirit of collaboration will shine through.B次元官网网址�

The private Axiom Space company arranged the visit with NASA for its three paying customers: Larry Connor of Dayton, Ohio, who runs the Connor Group; Mark Pathy, founder and CEO of MontrealB次元官网网址檚 Mavrik Corp.; and IsraelB次元官网网址檚 Eytan Stibbe, a former fighter pilot and founding partner of Vital Capital.

Before the flight, their enthusiasm was obvious. Stibbe did a little dance when he arrived at the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center.

SpaceX and NASA have been upfront with them about the risks of spaceflight, said Lopez-Alegria, who spent seven months at the space station 15 years ago.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no fuzz, I think, on what the dangers are or what the bad days could look like,B次元官网网址� Lopez-Alegria told The Associated Press before the flight.

NASAB次元官网网址檚 Kathy Lueders, head of space operations, said thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot to learn from this first wholly private station visit. B次元官网网址淏ut man, was this launch a great start,B次元官网网址� she told reporters.

Each visitor has a full slate of experiments to conduct during their stay, one reason they donB次元官网网址檛 like to be called space tourists.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e not up there to paste their nose on the window,B次元官网网址� said AxiomB次元官网网址檚 co-founder and president, Michael Suffredini, a former NASA space station program manager.

The three businessmen are the latest to take advantage of the opening of space to those with deep pockets. Jeff BezosB次元官网网址� rocket company Blue Origin is taking customers on 10-minute rides to the edge of space, while Virgin Galactic expects to start flying customers on its rocket ship later this year.

FridayB次元官网网址榮 flight is the second private charter for Elon MuskB次元官网网址檚 SpaceX, which took a on a three-day orbit ride last year. to the station is coming up in just a couple weeks.

Axiom is targeting next year for its second private flight to the space station. More customer trips will follow, with Axiom adding its own rooms to the orbiting complex beginning in 2024. After about five years, the company plans to detach its compartments to form a self-sustaining station B次元官网网址� one of several commercial outposts intended to replace the space station once itB次元官网网址檚 retired and NASA shifts to the moon.

At an adjacent pad during FridayB次元官网网址檚 launch: , which is awaiting completion of a dress rehearsal for a summertime test flight.

As a gift for their seven station hosts, the four visitors are taking up paella and other Spanish cuisine prepared by celebrity chef Jos茅 Andr茅s. The rest of their time at the station, NASAB次元官网网址檚 freeze-dried chow will have to do.

The automated SpaceX capsule and its four passengers are due back April 19 with a splashdown off the Florida coast.

Connor is honoring OhioB次元官网网址檚 air and space legacy, is bringing along a fabric swatch from the Wright brothersB次元官网网址� 1903 Kitty Hawk flyer and gold foil from the Apollo 11 command module from the Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta.

Only the second Israeli in space, Stibbe will continue a thunderstorm experiment begun by the first B次元官网网址� Ilan Ramon, who died aboard shuttle Columbia in 2003. They were in the same fighter pilot squadron.

Stibbe is carrying copies of recovered pages of RamonB次元官网网址檚 space diary, as well as a song composed by RamonB次元官网网址檚 musician son and a painting of pages falling from the sky by his daughter.

B次元官网网址淭o be a part of this unique crew is a proof for me that thereB次元官网网址檚 no dream beyond reach,B次元官网网址� he said.

Marcia Dunn , The Associated Press

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