KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — Florida Space Coast is days away from a first of its kind, an all-private mission to the International Space Station.
The crew of Axiom-1 will spend eight days docked at the ISS performing more than two-dozen science experiments.
WATCH: NASA crews move forward with last major tests of SLS rocket at Kennedy Space Center
The crew said they aren’t tourists, they’re private astronauts.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Axiom-1 is scheduled to lift off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Wednesday.
The crew is in quarantine ahead of a planned launch from the Kennedy Space Center, but held a virtual press conference on Friday.
“This is opening a new era in spaceflight,” said Axiom-1 commander Michael López-Alegría. “We are taking the first step in a next generation platform initiative that’s going to bring working, living and research in space to a much broader and more international audience.”
López-Alegría is the commander for the Axiom-1 mission, and he also happens to be a retired NASA astronaut.
READ: NASA, ESA select 2 astronauts to launch on Crew-7 mission
He’s flying to the ISS with philanthropist Mark Pathy, former Israeli fighter pilot Eytan Stibbe and entrepreneur Larry Connor.
Axiom-1 is scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center at 12:05 p.m., pending range approval.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.