On September 15, SpaceX, run by tech billionaire Elon Musk, is all set to launch to orbit its first all-civilian mission ‘Inspiration4.’
The Inspiration4 mission team said in a tweet, “#Inspiration4 and @SpaceX have completed our flight readiness review and remain on track for launch!” In February earlier this year, the charity-driven mission named Inspiration4, which will be commanded by tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman and will have three others was announced by SpaceX.
Along a customized flight path they will orbit the planet aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule every 90 minutes. Upon conclusion of the three-day journey, for soft water landing off the coast of Florida Dragon will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. The 37-year-old Isaacman is the founder and CEO of integrated payment processing company Shift4 Payments and a trained pilot.
As part of an effort to raise millions for St JudeChildren’s Research hospital, billionaire Issacman purchased the flight. On the Inspiration4 mission, St. Jude has given two seats and has committed to giving $100 million to St. Jude. As Space.com reports, he is joined by Haley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor, and Chris Sembroski.
Arceneaux, a childhood bone cancer survivor, and St. Jude physician’s assistant was chosen to represent the charity, while Proctor and Sembroski were selected as part of a global contest for a trip on the flight. On September 15, Inspiration4 will blast off from NASA’s Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The report said the exact liftoff time will be determined just a few days before launch. According to the Inspiration4 team, the window, inspired by the Cupola on the International Space Station, will provide the crew with incredible views of Earth.
The report said, on September 9, Issacman, Arceneaux, Proctor, and Sembrowski are set to arrive at Kennedy Space Center ahead of their planned launch. SpaceX’s latest private astronaut mission has been marked by the Inspiration4 mission.
By the end of 2021, the company also planned to host a crew of four private astronauts paying $55 million each for an eight-day trip to the ISS. As announced by Musk in 2018, Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa will hitch a ride around the moon on SpaceX’s new rocket system Starship, which is under development.
