SpaceX & Axiom scrub the launch Axiom 3 on a Falcon 9 with crew Dragon for at least 24 hours. The first all four international private astronaut mission to the ISS for a fourteen day stay. Liftoff is planned for 4:49 PM Thursday January 18th 2024 from launch complex 39A with the weather estimated at 90% Go For Launch. First stage Falcon 9 booster B-1080 will make its fifth flight to space with a RTLS return to landing site at LZ-1 and this will be SpaceX 6th launch so far in 2024.

This crew dragon capsule C212 named Freedom has previously been flown on the NASA Crew 4 mission and the Axiom 2 mission.

On board are commander and retired NASA astronaut Michael Lopez Alegria from Spain & USA (duel citizenships), Pilot Walter Villadei Italy, Mission Specialist Marcos Wandt ESA Sweden, and Turkey's first astronaut Alper Geezeravci Mission Specialist. 

Roughly 36 hours after liftoff docking at the ISS will take place at the Harmony forward port. During their 14 day planned mission the astronauts will be conducting 30 science investigations and 50 out reach events on board this micro gravity laboratory. Some of the science will be biomedical research, sleep, bone health, space weather and cooking pasta in space.

God Speed Ax3 good much success to all the crews operating this launch.

Summary & Photos by Scott Schilke for spacenewsfl.com