On a crisp Tuesday morning, the world watched as Orbital Express lifted off from the Cape Canaveral launchpad, carrying the first private crew of humanity toward the moon on a commercial voyage. The launch was the culmination of a decade of research, engineering, and bold partnerships that have made space travel no longer the province of governments alone.

Mission Overview

• Launch vehicle: Falcon V4, 4-stage, 500-ton payload
• Crew: 4 astronauts, 2 mission specialists, 1 space tourist
• Destination: Luna‑X Habitat on the near side of the Moon
• Duration: 6‑day outbound trip, 10‑day lunar stay, 6‑day return
• Key objectives: Surface EVA, deploy a micro‑satellite array, collect soil samples for future Mars missions
• Commercial partnership: Orbital Express, SpaceX, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
• Public broadcast: Live 3‑D feed streamed to 4.5 billion viewers worldwide

The rocket’s ascent was smooth, but not without a few hiccups. A mid‑flight software glitch in the guidance system triggered an automated abort sequence that was resolved within seconds, giving the crew a few extra minutes of launch delay that they turned into a quick coffee break—an anecdote that will be remembered for years to come.

Highlights of the Journey

Launch Day: The sky erupted in a spectacular fireworks display, courtesy of the on‑board pyrotechnics that also served as a test of the new “Re‑entry Friendly” heat shield.

Mid‑Course: The crew logged a series of selfies using the new “Nano‑Lens” camera, which captured the Earth shrinking into a pale blue marble.

Lunar Landing: The descent engines performed flawlessly, and the crew performed a safe EVA to deploy a swarm of micro‑satellites that will orbit the Moon for 24 months.

Return: The splashdown in the Pacific Ocean was greeted by a full orchestra playing “Fly Me To The Moon” as the crew returned to Earth with smiles and a handful of moon rocks.