Axiom Space delays undocking of Ax-1 from ISS again

April 23 (UPI) -- Axiom Space's private astronaut mission Ax-1, which was expected to undock from the International Space Station on Saturday, has again delayed the return of its crew until Sunday.

"NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX teams elected to wave off today's undocking attempt due to a diurnal low wind trough which has been causing marginally high winds at the splashdown sites," NASA said in a statement.

The Axiom crew is now expected to close the hatch around 6:45 p.m. on Sunday to begin their return home in SpaceX Dragon Endeavour which will now land off the coast of Florida around 1 p.m. on Monday.

The mission, which was intended to last 10 days, marks the first time a private astronaut crew has boarded the ISS.

The crew consists of Michael López-Alegría, a retired NASA astronaut who works for Axiom; Larry Connor, a real estate and technology entrepreneur; Mark Pathy, a Canadian businessman; and Eytan Stibbe, an Israeli entrepreneur and former fighter jet pilot.