SpaceX Launches Rocket With Former NASA Astronaut And Three Paying Customers Aboard

The crew will spend nearly eight days as they work through a line-up of over 20 investigations and science projects, including stem cell and other biomedical research.

A SpaceX rocket took off from Florida on Sunday, carrying a former NASA astronaut and three paying customers.

The launch marks the second all-private mission to the orbiting outpost.

Mission AX-2 is making history as stem cell researcher Rayyanah Barnawi is the first woman from Saudi Arabia to travel to space. Also aboard is former NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson, John Shoffner, and a Royal Saudi Air Force Pilot Ali AlQarni.

The crew will spend nearly eight days as they work through a line-up of over 20 investigations and science projects, including stem cell and other biomedical research.