The two-week mission, chartered by Houston-based Axiom Space, is the fourth privately financed flight to the International Space Station.

A Russia-controlled module on the space station has been leaking for years. Now, operators are working to figure out if the issue is affecting the entire station.

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.