Retired astronaut Peggy Whitson, America's most experienced space flier, and three rookie crewmates from India, Poland and Hungary blasted off on a privately-financed flight to the International Space Station early Wednesday - the fourth non-government mission mounted by Houston-based Axiom Space.

SpaceX’s fifth and final Crew Dragon spacecraft finally made it off the ground on a private astronaut mission for Axiom Space.

NASA retiree turned private astronaut Peggy Whitson was launched on the fifth flight to orbit of her career early on Wednesday, joined by crewmates from India, Poland and Hungary heading for their countries' first visit to the International Space Station.