“We’re in space!” reads a jubilant banner in English, Hebrew and Arabic scrolling across the home page of Israel’s Rakia Mission today.

Indeed, 64-year-old Eytan Stibbe has become the first Israeli astronaut to enter the International Space Station (ISS).

Stibbe and three astronauts from North America launched at 11:17 a.m. EDT April 8 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as part of the historic Axiom mission 1 (Ax-1), the first fully private space mission.

The rocket carrying the four astronauts docked at the ISS about 21 hours later and got a hearty welcome from the crew. Stibbe was the first to enter.

The four commercial Ax-1 astronauts have floated into the International Space Station.

Israeli investor Eytan Stibbe was first, followed by Canadian entrepreneur Mark Pathy, American businessman Larry Connor & retired NASA astronaut Mike López-Alegría.https://t.co/ahuzXRfiev pic.twitter.com/FkDHZE0tfo

— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) April 9, 2022

“Only 241 persons from 19 countries have spent time in [the ISS] in the past decades. It is intended to serve as a giant orbiting laboratory, enabling in-depth study of various phenomena under conditions of microgravity,” according to Rakia’s homepage.

Rakia (Hebrew for “sky”) is a project of the Ramon Foundation and the Israel Space Agency in the Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology. The mission’s stated purpose is “to inspire the younger generation while advancing and expanding the Israel space industry.”

Stibbe was close with Israel’s first astronaut, Ilan Ramon, who was killed in the explosion of the Space Shuttle Columbia in February 2003. Previously a combat pilot, he’s become a successful businessman and philanthropist.

Stibbe is donating his time and all costs of the journey, including expenses related to the 44 experiments he’s taking along from Israeli scientists, entrepreneurs and students.

According to the Ramon Foundation, “The mission will enable Israeli entrepreneurs and researchers to advance innovative ideas and will provide a rare opportunity for them to test their enterprises in a unique study environment, thereby contributing to international and Israeli research industries. In addition, the mission will make diversified educational activities accessible, to benefit all Israeli children. It will in fact, be the first time that Israeli children and youth will have access to the International Space Station, in Hebrew.”

Follow Stibbe’s 10-day journey here.