A Falcon 9 launcher carrying the SpaceX Dragon 2 spacecraft took its place on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral on Wednesday ahead of Friday's spaceflight, which will include Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe heading for a 10-day mission on the International Space Station.
SpaceX reported that it would be the fifth trip of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle. In September, the same launcher flew a Dragon spaceship on a mission named Inspirition 4, and the crew spent three days in orbit around Earth.
The American aerospace company also announced that if the launch would be delayed due to weather conditions, the next available date would be Saturday, April 9, 17:54 pm IST.
The Falcon 9 is a two-stage partially reusable launcher, which is designed and manufactured by SpaceX in the United States.
SpaceX also said that the Dragon spaceship, in which Stibbe would fly along with three other crew members of the Axiom Mission 1, had already docked twice at the International Space Station, the first time was in May 2020.
The Dragon 2 spacecraft on its way to the launch pad in Cape Canaveral ahead of its mission
(Photo: SpaceX)
Tests will be performed on the spaceship until its launch to ensure that there are no last-minute problems.
Speaking in a press conference on Tuesday, Stibbe -- who is currently in isolation ahead of the launch -- said he made good use of the time to 'go over everything,' and prepare for the mission.
The bridge through which the astronauts will board the spaceship
(Photo: SpaceX)
“We have the opportunity to ask questions and go through processes and see what we do not understand,” Stibbe said.
"For me what is important is not my personal journey but the mission itself,” said the astronaut, who explained that he paid to take part in SpaceX’s upcoming space flight because it is privately funded.
"I cover the costs [of my flight]," the former Israeli air force fighter pilot said, "but so many people have joined the mission that my excitement is through the roof."
“We are the first private crew to be trained and adapted for a full journey, for a mission in the space station, while making full use of the space lab,” Stibbe said.
Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe
(Photo: Axiom Space & SpaceX , Chris Gunn)
His daughter Shir has also trained for the mission and would replace him should he be unable to participate.