On Thursday, January 18, SpaceX achieved another milestone as its Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched Axiom Space’s third crewed mission, Ax-3, to the International Space Station (ISS). The liftoff took place at 4:49 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) from Launch Complex 39A, with cameras inside the crew compartment capturing footage of the four crew members in their pressurized cabin, seated in sleek white-and-black spacesuits.

This marked Houston, Texas-based Axiom’s third crewed mission in the past two years, showcasing the company’s commitment to its business of facilitating space travel for astronauts sponsored by foreign governments and private enterprises. Each Axiom trip aboard a Dragon spacecraft comes at an approximate cost of $55 million USD.

Live Broadcast: SpaceX Dragon Docks To ISS with Ax-3 Crew

LIVE NOW: @Axiom_Space’s #Ax3 crew is arriving to the @Space_Station after their day-long journey. Docking is targeted for 5:44am ET (1044 UTC), and opening of the hatch for around 7:20am ET (1220 UTC). https://t.co/svFRmSnjGK

— NASA (@NASA) January 20, 2024

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The Crew Dragon spacecraft, named “Freedom,” successfully docked to the ISS on Saturday, January 20, at around 5:42 a.m. ET. The crew, led by Ax-3 Commander and former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría, included Italian Air Force officer Walter Villadei, Turkish Air Force pilot Alper Gezeravcı, and Swedish Air Force pilot Marcus Wandt. Notably, Gezeravcı made history as the first astronaut from Turkey to fly to space, while Wandt became the second Swedish person in space.

The docking occurred while the spacecraft was flying approximately 262 miles over the Pacific Ocean, west of South America. The Ax-3 crew is set to spend two weeks aboard the ISS, during which they will conduct over 30 scientific experiments in microgravity, focusing on human physiology and technological advancements.

Upon their arrival, the Ax-3 crew was warmly welcomed by the seven members of the station’s current regular crew, consisting of two Americans from NASA, one astronaut each from Japan and Denmark, and three Russian cosmonauts. Watch the welcoming video linked below.

The @SpaceX Dragon's hatch opened at 7:13am ET today and four #Ax3 astronauts from @Axiom_Space entered the space station meeting the Expedition 70 crew. More… https://t.co/vNkf9W7e6S pic.twitter.com/oTFIEzADKa

— International Space Station (@Space_Station) January 20, 2024

Historic First Turkish Astronaut in Space 🇹🇷

The Ax-3 mission holds special significance for Turkey, as it marks the nation’s debut human spaceflight with the inclusion of Alper Gezeravcı, a 44-year-old Turkish Air Force veteran, as a mission specialist (pictured below). Born in December 1979 in Silifke, Türkiye, Gezeravcı’s journey to space began at the Air Force Academy in Istanbul, where he completed a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering. He further pursued a master’s degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

The @SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft with four #Ax3 astronauts from Europe aboard is nearing the space station for a 5:40am ET docking today. Watch live now… https://t.co/PK4SOrB3wW pic.twitter.com/NuuoYZQPhm

— International Space Station (@Space_Station) January 20, 2024

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Gezeravcı brings with him 15 years of flying experience as a fighter pilot with the Turkish Air Force, having operated various aircraft, including the T-41, SF-260, T-37, T-38, F-5, KC-135, and F-16. Additionally, he served as a captain with Turkish Airlines for seven years, holding roles such as flight leader, flight safety officer, and commercial airlines captain.

His most recent assignment was at the 10th Base Command Unit in Adana, Türkiye, where he served as the Standardization Squadron Academic Wing Commander. In this role, Gezeravcı was responsible for standardization and evaluation of the squadron, organizing training documents, conducting exams for F-16 and KC-135R pilots, and ensuring compliance with Air Force standards. The inclusion of Gezeravcı in the Ax-3 mission marks a historic moment for Turkey’s space exploration endeavors.

Author’s note: Thanks for reading Cosmic Chronicles. Write your thoughts in the comment section below. If you have story suggestions or feedback, Direct Message me on social media 𝕏: Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo @JaneidyEve. Read the most recent stories featured below. Thank You.