CNN —A SpaceX rocket took off for the International Space Station on another trailblazing mission operated entirely by the private sector. On board is a group of European astronauts, including the first person from Turkey to visit outer space. Thursday’s flight is the first Axiom mission in which a government or space agency has purchased all the seats. Courtesy of Axiom SpaceThe European Space Agency and the Swedish National Space Agency arranged Wandt’s ticket. Axiom is one of several companies that has plans eventually to build its own private space station.

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Persons: NASA —, Benji Reed, NASA’s, Walter Villadei, Marcus Wandt, Michael López, ”, Alegría, Frank De Winne, —, Michael Suffredini, Matt Ondler Organizations: CNN, SpaceX, International, NASA, United, International Space, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Space Agency’s, Private, European Space Agency, Swedish National Space Agency, Villadei’s, ESA, European Astronaut Centre, ISS, Space, Research Locations: Turkey, United States, Florida, Houston, Cologne, Germany