CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Astronauts from Turkey, Italy and Sweden returned to Earth on Friday, ending a private three-week mission to the International Space Station.
The trio were accompanied by a retired NASA astronaut who now works for Axiom Space, the Houston company that arranged the chartered flight. The crew returned in a SpaceX capsule that parachuted into the Atlantic off the Florida coast.
Turkey celebrated Alper Gezeravci’s launch from Cape Canaveral last month. A former fighter pilot and captain for Turkish Airlines, he became the first person from his country to fly in space.
Gezeravci was joined on the trip by Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei, Sweden’s Marcus Wandt, a former fighter pilot chosen as a reserve astronaut by the European Space Agency in 2022 and Michael Lopez-Alegria, their escort.
Turkey, Italy and Sweden financed the mission, paying roughly $55 million apiece. It was Axiom’s third private mission to the space station; the fourth is planned later this year.
Lynn Williams breaks NWSL goal
Uber, Shopify fall; Lyft, Arista Networks rise, Wednesday, 5/8/2024
Woman seeks to drop sexual assault lawsuit against ex
Colleges, universities having trouble hiring, retaining athletic trainers
Who is Jacob Zuma, the former South African president disqualified from next week's election?
Brayan Rocchio's RBI hit in the 10th gives the Guardians a 5
Lionel Messi's Inter Miami named the 18th
Lionel Messi's Inter Miami named the 18th
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry
Millie Mackintosh stuns in a paint splatter dress as she attends a home décor workshop
Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection after closing some restaurants
Missouri's GOP Gov. Mike Parson signs law expanding voucher