Three businessmen dock at space station on private SpaceX charter flight
Fran Golden is an award-winning cruise journalist whose work regularly appears in Bloomberg, Travel + Leisure, Afar and other travel outlets. She is the author of several cruise and travel books, including “100 Things To Do In Alaska Before You Die." Fran lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Although fond of lake Erie, her first love is the sea.
April 10, 2022
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3 min read
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Space travel has taken a giant leap forward. Ask the three wealthy businessmen who arrived Saturday at the International Space Station for a stay of more than a week. Each paid $55 million to be onboard SpaceX and NASA's first private charter mission to the orbiting lab.
NASA has previously been reluctant to encourage visits to the space station. On its first private charter last year, Elon Musk's SpaceX took billionaire Jared Isaacman and three guests instead on a three-day orbit in space.
For two years, SpaceX has been carrying only astronauts to the space station. That changed with Friday's launch of a Falcon rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The team
Onboard the Dragon spacecraft were real estate and technology entrepreneur Larry Connor of Dayton, Ohio; Canadian businessman Mark Pathy, CEO of Mavrik, a privately-owned investment company; and Eytan Stibbe of Israel, a philanthropist and founding partner of the Vital Capital Fund, who is also a former Israeli fighter pilot. Stibbe is only the second Israeli to fly in space.
The $55 million fare paid by the businessmen covers transportation to and from the International Space Station, accommodations and meals.
The businessmen were accompanied by a former astronaut, Michael Lopez-Alegría, who previously spent several months at the space station while working for NASA – and is now an executive with the mission's organizer, Houston-based Axiom Space.
The trip
Lift off was Friday, April 8. "That was a hell of a ride," Lopez-Alegría radioed back to NASA mission controllers after the spacecraft reached orbit.
"On its flight to the International Space Station, Dragon executed a series of burns that positioned the vehicle progressively closer to the station before it performed final docking maneuvers, followed by pressurization of the vestibule, hatch opening, and crew ingress," SpaceX posted online Saturday
The mission
The private Ax-1 mission crew will spend more than a week at the space station. During that time they will do educational outreach and conduct "innovative" research experiments, according to Axiom Space. It was unclear if the visitors would be invited to visit the Russian section of the space station.
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The private mission is scheduled to splashdown off the Florida coast on April 19.
Related: How to redeem miles for flights to space
More space tourism opportunity
Axiom Space is planning another private charter mission (Ax-2) to the space station, to launch between fall of this year and late spring 2023
If $55 million is beyond your pocketbook, Virgin Galactic has been selling tickets on its rocket ship for $450,000, for a 90-minute trip into space. You may even be able to redeem 2 million Flying Club miles for your trip.
Or consider a Zero G flight for even cheaper thrills.
Featured image by Courtesy of NASA
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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- The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. TPG values it at $1,600.
- This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. (Enrollment required for select benefits.)
- The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway.
Cons
- The high annual fee is only worth it if you’re taking full advantage of the card’s benefits. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost.
- Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories.
- The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards.
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups are excluded.
- American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. There are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
- Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment required. Learn more.
- Breeze through security with CLEAR® lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. Learn more.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees