"The launch was amazing. It immediately hovered over Israel": Eitan Steve speaks from space

Just before arriving at the International Space Station, the second Israeli astronaut spoke live from the Dragon spacecraft.

"We are starting to conduct ourselves comfortably and efficiently," he said excitedly

Yinon Ben Shoshan

09/04/2022

Saturday, 09 April 2022, 10:49 Updated: 11:07

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Eitan Steve speaks from the Dragon spacecraft (NASA)

A little more than 16 hours after they were launched into space, Eitan Steve, the second Israeli astronaut, spoke this morning (Saturday) for the first time from the Dragon spacecraft on his way to the International Space Station - hovering in space with the other three crew members on a mission.

"Hello everyone, we are already used to a situation of gravity. We are starting to operate comfortably and efficiently. The launch was amazing," said Steva, adding: "We are over Africa and in 5-10 minutes we will cross very close to the shores of Israel. I think it will be night so maybe I will see The beach, depending on the clouds at high altitude. "

Steva was launched as part of the first private space mission in history, by Axium (Ax-1) featuring Michael Lopez-Allegria, former NASA astronaut and vice president, Larry Connor, American entrepreneur and activist investor in non-profit organizations and Mark Pati, investor and Canadian philanthropist .

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Steva (right) with the mission team (Photo: Courtesy Of SpaceX)

Today at 2:45 p.m., the Dragon spacecraft will dock at the International Space Station.

About two hours after docking, while comparing the pressures between the spacecraft and the space station, at 16:35 the Ax-1 crew and their sons, the Israeli astronaut Eitan Steve, will enter the International Space Station.

There they will be greeted by the seven astronauts who are staying at the station, in a traditional ceremony held when new astronauts enter the space station.

The ceremony will be addressed by the commander of the International Space Station, Thomas Marshburn, and the commander of the Ax-1 mission, Michael Lopez Allegria.

The four's journey will continue for close to a day, and they are expected to arrive at the International Space Station on Saturday, around 14:30 (Israel time).

Steve's mission, under the Hebrew name 'Rakia', is expected to last about ten days, during which he will conduct dozens of experiments by Israeli scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs.

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