SpaceX News: Falcon 9 Launches First-Ever AX-3 Axiom Space Mission With All-European Astronauts; All You Need To Know

SpaceX News: Elon Musk-led SpaceX launched Axiom Space's Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) to the International Space Station in Florida. The Falcon 9 with the Crew Dragon capsule was lifted off at 04:49 PM local time, according to SpaceX. The first all-European commercial crew was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The Dragon will likely dock at the space station on Saturday at about 04:19 AM ET.

According to Bloomberg, the crew is said to dock at the orbiting laboratory (about 402km above the Earth) at around 05:15 AM New York Time on January 20. "Following stage separation, Falcon 9's first stage landed on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station," the aerospace firm added. The Axiom Mission 3 is the third iteration of a crewed mission into the lower orbit of the planet.

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Axiom Space will continue to focus on developing private space stations, the report noted. At the helm of the mission is Michael López-Alegría, who also led the Ax-1 mission (the firm's first mission to ISS). Walter Villadei (of the Italian Air Force), Alper Gezeravci (mission specialist from Sweden) and Marcus Wandt (mission specialist from Turkey) are also a part of the mission.

Ax-3 Mission: Michael López-Alegría will command the flight. (Image:SpaceX)

Space X's VP for Build and Flight Reliability William Gerstenmaier communicated to the crew on a lighter note: "You're demonstrating the ultimate in reuse: a reused commander, a reused Dragon, and a reused Falcon. Or maybe flight experience is a better word. Enjoy space!"

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Space X added, "During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct more than 30 scientific experiments and demonstrations focused on human physiology and technological industrial advancements." The first stage booster has landed at Landing Zone 1, the space research company said. For quick context, Falcon 9 is the "world's first orbital class reusable rocket" that can transport goods and people in the Earth's orbit.