Inspiration-4: SpaceX launches first all- civilian crew into orbit!
- IndiaGlitz, [Thursday,September 16 2021]
SpaceX launched the Inspiration-4 mission with an all-civilian squad on Thursday from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. It was the first time a rocket is launched toward orbit with an all-amateur crew and with no professional astronauts.
The company's first private mission to orbit was led by a 38-year-old entrepreneur, Jared Isaacman, who is bankrolling the entire trip. The crew also includes Hayley Arceneux, 29, a childhood cancer survivor and current St. Jude physician assistant; Sian Proctor, 51, a geologist and community college teacher with a PhD; and Chris Sembroski, a 42-year-old Lockheed Martin employee and lifelong space fan who claimed his seat through an online raffle.
The Dragon capsule's two men and two women are looking to spend three days circling the world from an unusually high orbit — 100 miles (160 kilometres) higher than the International Space Station aiming for an altitude of 575 kilometres, just above the current position of the Hubble Space Telescope before splashing down off the Florida coast this weekend.
The tourists have every hour planned over the next three days in space. They'll have time to talk to their families using NASA's TDRS communications system and will also be conducting experiments.
Liftoff of @Inspiration4X! Go Falcon 9! Go Dragon! pic.twitter.com/NhRXkD4IWg
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 16, 2021
Dragon has separated from Falcon 9’s second stage pic.twitter.com/pOfgJ9LsvE
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 16, 2021
It was an honor getting to speak with @DrSianProctor and the incredible #Inspiration4 crew. They're inspiring us all with their courage, curiosity, and passion. I'm thinking of all the young people who'll be looking up to this crew and dreaming big thanks to them. Ad astra! ???? pic.twitter.com/6uAyFI2Z5D
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) September 16, 2021
A new era for human spaceflight and exploration has begun. "The door is opening now and it’s pretty incredible." #Inspiration4 Commander @rookisaacman in orbit. pic.twitter.com/t76aR9e5tq
— Inspiration4 (@inspiration4x) September 16, 2021
On 9/15 the crew of #Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian human spaceflight mission to orbit, officially ushered in a new era of space exploration at 8:02:56 PM EDT. https://t.co/9iqEiVGzXe pic.twitter.com/PpLYAkJYKB
— Inspiration4 (@inspiration4x) September 16, 2021
You can re-watch the launch of the #Inspiration4 mission here: https://t.co/rrK4BZy3Fu pic.twitter.com/rMET0QFtGs
— Inspiration4 (@inspiration4x) September 16, 2021
After an approximately three-day journey, the #Inspiration4 team will reenter the Earth’s atmosphere for a soft water landing off the coast of Florida. pic.twitter.com/fIIE5l7R1N
— Inspiration4 (@inspiration4x) September 16, 2021
New astronaut tradition — glow stick ring toss after suit up! pic.twitter.com/ZUqZRMvF2g
— Inspiration4 (@inspiration4x) September 16, 2021
Liftoff of our amazing #Inspiration4 crew — Jared, Hayley, Sian, and Chris — seen through the lens of @johnkrausphotos ✨ pic.twitter.com/COctvQ0EaD
— Inspiration4 (@inspiration4x) September 16, 2021