The four astronauts of Axiom Space's latest private mission have concluded their stay aboard the International Space Station.

However, the increasing privatization of space access raises questions about America's future role in space exploration. While another private company, SpaceX, currently provides the only means for launching astronauts from U.S. soil, Oluseyi emphasized the importance of maintaining both public and private investment in space.

Axiom 4 astronauts returned to Earth on Tuesday following their 18 day mission aboard the International Space Station.