SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying private Ax-2 astronauts splashes down off Florida coast (video)

A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying four private astronauts has landed safely off the Florida coast. The mission, known as Ax-2, marks the first fully private, all-civilian spaceflight to orbit Earth. The crew spent three days in space, orbiting at an altitude higher than that of the International Space Station. The mission was aimed at raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and each member of the crew donated $200 million to the cause. The crew, comprised of a billionaire CEO, a physician assistant, a data engineer, and a geoscientist, underwent months of training and preparation before the launch. This successful mission marks another milestone in the burgeoning space tourism industry, which is attracting increasing interest and investment from the private sector. As more private individuals look to journey to space, the possibilities for space exploration and research continue to expand.