SpaceX launches Axiom 3 mission to International Space Station (10 images)

By Wade Sheridan

SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying an all-European crew to the International Space Station in the Axiom 3 mission from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday. The crew will return in about two weeks.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches an all-European crew on the Axiom 3 mission at 4:49 p.m. from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 18, 2024. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI

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The launch had been postponed Wednesday to allow teams extra time to complete prelaunch checkouts and data analysis on the vehicle. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI

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The Axiom 3 mission is the third private industry flight to take four astronauts to the International Space Station. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI

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Axiom Space said in a statement that this first all-European commercial astronaut mission "marks a new era of opportunity for countries to join the international space community and access low-Earth orbit to advance exploration and research in microgravity." Photo by Joe Marino/UPI

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