SpaceX to send first all-civilian crew into space for 3 days
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The first all-civilian crew in space
On 15 September (16th for India), SpaceX will launch four people into space on a three-day mission. This will be the first all-civilian crew (only private citizens, not government astronauts) in space.
It is called the Inspiration4 mission. The mission will be flying further than the orbit of the International Space Station. The rocket will circle the globe once every 90 minutes (at more than 27,000 km per hour) for 3 days.
Who are the members of the first all-civilian crew?
American billionaire Jared Isaacman has paid for the entire flight. He is a 38-year-old pilot and founder of the Shift4 Payment company. Moreover, he will lead the mission.
Isaacman has also selected 3 other people to go on the mission. They are 29-year-old Hayley Arceneaux, 42-year-old Chris Sembroski and 51-year-old Sian Proctor. All four crew members represent a pillar of the mission: leadership (Isaacman), hope, prosperity, generosity.
Hayley is is a childhood bone cancer survivor, who represents “hope”. She also will become the first person with a prosthetic (artificial limb) to go to space. Chris is a former US Air Force soldier and he represents “generosity”. The third, Sian, is an earth science professor who missed out on becoming a NASA astronaut. She represents “prosperity”.
Purpose of the mission
The first all-civilian crew has trained for months for the mission. When they are in space, they will conduct medical experiments to see the effect of spaceflight on the human body.
Moreover, with this mission, Isaacman wants to raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This is a leading pediatric (children) cancer centre.
Liftoff
The mission with the first all-civilian crew will launch on 15 September from 8:00 p.m. ET (16 September at 5:30 a.m. for India). They will launch from NASA’s Kennedy Center in Florida, US.
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