A U.S. SpaceX ship carrying four astronauts was successfully launched Friday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, making it the first all-private astronaut mission to the International Space Station.
The flight has been organized by Axiom Space Inc., a U.S. company that was selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 2020 to build a commercial wing to the ISS as the space agency opens the orbiting laboratory for commercial use.
During the 10-day mission, Spain-born former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria and investors from the United States, Canada and Israel are expected to carry out scientific research and other activities.
According to Axiom, the mission will include studies involving a photocatalyst air-purification device developed by the Japan Manned Space Systems Corp., in the hope that it can be used to clean the air on the ISS and remove cabin odor.
The Japanese company has said in a press release that it is developing with universities in the country a simple air-cleaning system that can be installed anywhere, given that space trips are expected to increase.
The spacecraft used in the trip involving the four men was developed by the U.S. aerospace manufacturer officially called Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and was launched by the company's Falcon 9 rocket.
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