Canadian investor and philanthropist Mark Pathy, American businessman Larry Connor and former Israeli Air Force pilot Eytan Stibbe made history when they were launched into space from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 11:17 ET (16:17 BST). The crew, which also includes retired NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría acting as commander, was launched with a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule into what is the latest landmark in space commercialization. They are due to arrive at the orbital laboratory at approximately 7:30 a.m. ET (12:30 BST) tomorrow morning for an eight-day stay, where they will dedicate one tenth of their time to scientific, medical and technical research and experiments. The three wealthy businessmen may seem to have a lot in common with many of the affluent passengers on the Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic services offered by billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson, respectively. But Axiom Space, which is leading the mission, said the trio would carry out “substantial research” – including growing beef cells in a “tender and juicy” artificial steak. López-Alegría, 63, added that they were not “space tourists”. The first fully civilian crew launched to the International Space Station went into orbit today, with three businessmen paying $ 55 million each (41 41 million) for the franchise Canadian investor Mark Pathy (center-left), American businessman Larry Connor (left) and former Israeli Air Force pilot Eytan Stibbe (right) reportedly paid $ 55 million each to be the first fully commercial crew astronauts to fly to the International Space Station. With them is former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría (middle, right) Blast off: SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule pictured shooting into space after launch from Florida earlier today They are due to arrive at the orbital laboratory at approximately 7:30 a.m. ET (12:30 BST) tomorrow morning for an eight-day stay, where they will dedicate one tenth of their time to scientific, medical and technical research and experiments The crew, which also includes retired NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría acting as commander of the Axiom Space, was launched with a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule into what is the latest landmark in the commercialization of space. Connor (left), in his 70s, Pathy (middle, right), 52, and Stibbe (right), 64, may seem to have a lot in common with many of the wealthy Blue Riders. Origin and Virgin Galactic Services offered by billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson, respectively. But López-Alegría emphasized that his three colleagues were not “space tourists”
MEET THE RICH TRIO THAT FINANCED THE AX-1 MISSION
Three wealthy investors will spend ten days in space, including a week on the International Space Station. They are:
López-Alegría (left) will serve as mission commander and Connor (right) as pilot
Larry Connor, 72, will be the pilot of the Ax-1 mission for the trip.
Connor was born in 1950 in Albany, New York and graduated from Ohio State University in 1972.
The investor founded his first company, Orlando Computer Corp. in 1982.
He then founded Connor Group, a real estate investment company, in 1992, which grew into a $ 3.5 billion business.
Married to his wife Christine since 1981, he has three children and used his success with the Connor Group to establish a children’s charity.
Connor is no stranger to adventure, having explored the Challenger Deep and the Sirena Deep in the Mariana Trench under the Pacific Ocean.
While at the station, he will work on behalf of the Mayo Clinic that could provide data on the impact of space travel on aging cells.
Stibbe (left) and Pathy (right) will work as mission specialists during the day trip to the ISS
Mark Pathy, 52, will specialize in the Ax-1 flight mission.
Born in Canada, he is an immigrant child, his mother from the Netherlands and a father born in Egypt to Hungarian parents.
He graduated with honors from the University of Toronto in 1993 and received his master’s degree in 1998.
Pathy is president of Mavrik Corp., a Montreal-based private equity and finance company.
Married to his wife Jessica, Pathy has raised money for many good causes through the Pathy Family Foundation.
He is said to have spent most of his life avoiding the limelight, saying during the announcement of his space flight: “If I could make this trip anonymously, I would.”
The investor is also a member of the board and executive committee of the Montréal Children’s Hospital Foundation and a supporter of efforts to protect against climate change.
He will work with six Canadian universities, as well as two startups on “proof-of-idea” ideas while on track.
This includes the world’s first two-way all-in-one demonstration of space – a special augmented reality lens application that receives two-dimensional 3D projections as a hologram for remote communication between users.
Stibbe (left) and Pathy (right) will work as mission specialists during the day trip to the ISS
Eytan Stibbe, 64, will be the mission expert for the Ax-1 mission.
Born in Haifa, Israel, he spent the first seven years of his life in the United States before returning to Israel with his family.
He is a “social impact investor”, philanthropist and former pilot of the Israeli Air Force.
Stibbe served from 1976 to 1984, but continued to serve as a reserve until 2012, receiving the rank of Colonel.
The former fighter ace has been married to Ora Etrog Stibbe since 1985, a psychotherapist. They have three children – Amit, Shir and Yoav – and four grandchildren.
Stibbe is the founding partner of the Vital Capital Impact investment fund, which was established in 2010 with the aim of improving the situation of underprivileged populations in developing countries.
He founded the social welfare company Anatta with his wife, supporting social and educational initiatives.
The philanthropist is also on the board of the Ramon Foundation, which was started by Israel’s first astronaut, Ilan Ramon, and will conduct experiments for them while in orbit.
During his mission, he will facilitate scientific experiments and conduct educational and artistic activities to connect the younger generation in Israel and around the world on the values of peace, innovation and social responsibility.
Axiom executives also insisted that the trio’s mission goes beyond space tourism.
“They are not up there to stick their noses in the windows. “They are there to do substantive research, each in their own way,” Axiom co-founder and CEO Michael Suffredini told a recent pre-flight news briefing.
“What a historic launch! “I thank the dedicated NASA team that worked tirelessly to make this mission a reality,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson after the Falcon 9 rocket took off.
“NASA’s partnership with industry through commercial cargo and crew programs has led our nation to this new era of human spaceflight – an age of unlimited potential.
“Congratulations to Axiom, SpaceX and the Axiom-1 crew on their first private mission to the International Space Station.”
He added: “We remove commercial enterprises from the face of the Earth and place them in space.”
Starting at 5:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. BST) Tomorrow (Saturday), NASA will provide live coverage of Endeavor Dock, hatch opening, and a crew welcome ceremony on its website.
The Endeavor will be self-contained at the port overlooking the station’s Harmony unit around 7:45 p.m. ET (12:45 pm BST).
Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) is the first all-private mission to the International Space Station (ISS), a joint project of Russia, the United States, Canada, Japan and the European Space Agency (ESA).
“First I want to congratulate Michael, Larry, Eytan and Mark,” Suffredini said after the launch. “We will usher in a new era in private human spaceflight when they cross the threshold to enter the International Space Station.
“This trip is the culmination of many hours of training, design and dedication by the crew and the entire Axiom Space team, our SpaceX partners, and of course, a credit to NASA’s vision of developing a sustainable low-Earth orbit presence.” . ‘
The four-member crew was launched into a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule (photo yesterday) in what is the latest milestone in space commercialization
Stibbe (left) is accompanied by Larry Connor (right) and Mark Pathy (second right) and is led by retired NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría (second left), who has traveled through space four times and is now vice president of Axiom Space
EXAMPLES OF MISSION RESEARCH AX-1
Larry Connor, pilot of the Ax-1 mission, businessman and non-profit activist investor, has a number of projects in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic. Connor’s experiments on behalf of the Mayo Clinic would provide data on the impact of space travel on aging cells and heart health. Connor is expected to be in charge of maintaining the aging cells – cells that have stopped dividing – in the ISS. These cells are linked to multiple age-related diseases, and understanding them can help protect astronauts on long-distance travel to Mars. Mark Pathy, an Ax-1 mission specialist, works for The Montreal Children’s Hospital, Canadian Research Universities, and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Collaborates with six Canadian universities, as well as two startups for “proof of idea” ideas. This includes the world’s first two-way all-in-one demonstration of space – a special augmented reality lens application that receives two-dimensional 3D projections as a hologram for remote communication between users. In addition to human research, Pathy plans to lead Earth observation activities that will …
