As the Inspiration4 crew continues to prepare for their mission, they took on a challenging team-building activity earlier this month — climbing to Camp Muir on Mount Rainier in Washington state!

Preparing to spend three days in a confined environment with three other humans while orbiting Earth at 17,500 miles per hour in a spacecraft is a unique challenge, but this climb presented an opportunity for the crew to grow as a team in an difficult environment, facing cold temperatures, limited visibility, and minimal accommodations at the camp.

“We are going to work on getting comfortable being uncomfortable,” said Inspiration4 commander Jared Isaacman before the climb.

Camp Muir rests just above 10,000ft in altitude and presents a difficult climb for new and experienced climbers alike. 

The Inspiration4 astronauts and team spent the first day in the area briefing with guides from RMI Expeditions who supported the group in their ascent to Camp Muir. RMI helped ensure the team was well prepared with the right clothing, food, and supplies. The team was also joined by legendary mountaineer Ed Viesturs, who has summited every 8,000-meter mountain in the world without supplemental oxygen — the only American to do so. 

Inspiration4 mission specialist Chris Sembroski has lived in the greater Seattle area for almost 14 years, and Mount Rainier has been a continuous backdrop in his day-to-day life — an icon of the Pacific Northwest, always looming in the distance — but he had never before made the climb to Camp Muir. And he certainly didn’t think his first visit to Mount Rainier National Park would be during his training to become an astronaut and lead-up to flying to space.

“In fact, you can follow almost everything with the phrase ‘during a lead-up to flying to space’,” Chris quipped.

“Although I can constantly see the mountain from anywhere around Seattle, it loomed especially large that day driving up to it, knowing I had to climb that volcano,” he shared after the climb. “Even though it was the most difficult hike I have attempted so far, the incredible sense of accomplishment as we reached Camp Muir is something I will never forget.”

Inspiration4 medical officer Hayley Arceneaux was admittedly nervous going into the trip, but worked hard to physically condition herself ahead of the climb — preparing for the challenge of attempting a strenuous climb with a metal prosthetic in her leg and artificial knee joint.

“I was nervous going into our Mount Rainier trip as I was not sure if I was physically ready for the challenge,” Hayley said. “I worked hard in the gym during the month prior to prepare.”

Inspiration4 pilot Dr. Sian Proctor commemorated the challenge of Mount Rainier with a poem written after the trip:

Below: The Inspiration4 team heads off to Camp Rainier on May 1, 2021. Poor weather conditions during the initial ascent presented limited visibility.

The team’s primary objective was to reach Camp Muir, which was achieved on the first day of the climb. The team spent two nights at Camp Muir, soaking in the stunning, elevated views from the mountain, and learning mountaineering skills such as safely roping into a crevasse.

A smaller group of individuals on the team, including Inspiration4 commander Jared Isaacman, summited Mount Rainier on the second day of the expedition. Jared’s summit of Rainier was only his second in seven attempts — including an attempt earlier this year, which was ultimately called off due to weather conditions and a large crevasse on Rainier.

“Mt. Rainier training objective complete. Most people train for six months to take on Rainier. This Inspiration4 crew had 30 days. I am so proud!” Jared said after the team returned from the mountain. “We want to thank RMI Expeditions and Ed Viesturs for their support of our adventure and are looking forward to what comes next.”

Up next: Jared, Hayley, Sian, and Chris are continuing their training in May and into the summer with visits to SpaceX’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California and the launch site at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Inspiration4 team takes on Mount Rainier

After wrapping up an exciting few days of touring Kennedy Space Center in Florida and announcing the final two members of the crew, the Inspiration4 astronauts traveled straight to the National Aerospace Training and Research (NASTAR) Center in Pennsylvania for their first formal training event ahead of their launch to space, scheduled no earlier than September 15, 2021.

At the NASTAR Center, the crew underwent centrifuge training to prepare for the various dynamic situations encountered during spaceflight — including launch, reentry, ocean splashdown, and a potential in-flight abort scenario. These centrifuge profiles were modeled by SpaceX after previous Crew Dragon missions to closely replicate the g-forces the crew will experience during their trip to space.

“I think the team did great. We came off a big media announcement of our mission and have all been traveling with family,” said mission commander Jared Isaacman. “That is a lot going on and it could’ve provided potential distractions, but the crew was laser-focused during training and performed incredibly well.”

Familiarizing the crew with these kinds of g-forces is an important step ahead of launching to space. Jared, no stranger to high g-forces throughout his history as a fighter jet pilot, shared how the forces experienced in the centrifuge are different than what he’s most familiar with:

“Personally, I thought the centrifuge training was incredibly useful and better than anything we can simulate in fighter jets. When you fly jets, you are pulling Gz, during which you are really straining to keep blood in your head and to avoid g-force induced loss of consciousness (g-LOC). In the centrifuge, we were pulling Gx, which is more front-to-back in your chest and doesn’t create vision issues, but is more a feeling of weight on your chest while trying to breath. It’s a different experience.”

Hayley had recently gained centrifuge experience in Huntsville, Alabama, while Sian and Chris had not yet taken a centrifuge spin until their visit to the NASTAR Center.

“I enjoyed the experience because we got to simulate the g-forces from an actual liftoff and re-entry,” said Dr. Sian Proctor. “I feel like I have a better idea of what to expect and how my body will respond and that just makes me more excited for the real thing.”

“Centrifuge training was unexpectedly one of the coolest things I’ve done!” said Chris Sembroski. “The SpaceX team provided scenarios during this training that removed any shadow of a doubt that we will be successful getting to and from space. I look forward to getting on with the technical aspects of training, and growing closer with my crew.”

“Overall this was a great simulation of real events to come and also a good opportunity to challenge and create a stressful environment for the team on Earth, before we experience these things in orbit,” Jared added. “I am really pleased.”

Next up for the Inspiration4 astronauts: Attending the Crew-2 launch from Kennedy Space Center on April 22!

Inspiration4 crew completes centrifuge training

Inspiration4 commander Jared Isaacman took to the skies above Nevada on the afternoon of Thursday, April 8, flying with the USAF Thunderbirds out of Nellis Air Force Base.

The flight was Jared’s first time flying in an F-16, fulfilling a lifelong dream after being rated to pilot in a dozen planes — and flying in countless others — since he began flying in 2005. Jared had acquired over 6,500 flight hours ahead of his flight with Thunderbird #7. Both the aircraft and Jared’s helmet were labeled with Jared’s name.

“I flew flight simulators like Falcon 2.0 and Falcon 3.0 as a kid, and this was a jet I dreamed of flying,” Jared shared. “At the time I was growing up, the F-16 was the multi-role, badass, fourth-generation platform.”

With years of experience flying Right Wing on the Black Diamond Jet Team, Jared is no stranger to flying fighter jets. That flight history, as well as attending over fifty Thunderbird performances through the years, has given Jared a special appreciation of the power and precision of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Some of Jared’s closest friends are former F-16 pilots, lending him even more insight into the Thunderbirds program ahead of his flight:

“My experience as a formation jet pilot was definitely helpful. The first thing I wanted to do in the aircraft was fly formation off Thunderbird #8. I found the F-16’s fly-by-wire to be really sensitive to pitch in close formation, which my friends had mentioned to me. It definitely made me appreciate how hard the Thunderbirds have it when flying ‘diamond tight.’”

For most of the flight, Jared had control of the aircraft, a rarity for most “fan flights” conducted by the Thunderbirds — a testament to Jared’s prior flight heritage.

“I am so appreciative of all the stick time Lt. Col. Kevin “Gator” DiFalco gave me in the F-16. It really was an incredible aircraft. The HOTAS (hands on throttle-and-stick) was very similar to the MB-339 and L-159s that I am rated in, so I felt like I got comfortable in the cockpit rather quickly. The jet was really pleasant to fly in all respects. I would say the only thing that was surprising and challenging was the close formation pitch sensitivity.”

Jared’s flight was yet another opportunity to witness the acumen of the Thunderbirds team — and a chance for Inspiration4 and the Thunderbirds to continue to inspire aviation fans and spaceflight fans alike.

“The Thunderbirds are always incredibly professional airmen,” Jared added. “They are proud of their role on the team and the important mission they serve for the U.S. Air Force and the country. It was really no different during this flight. It is a pleasure watching them work. The team has been inspiring millions of people across the world for decades. They accomplish their mission with how they perform in the air but also with the important work they do on the ground.”

“This was an opportunity to learn from the best as we begin our journey to inspire others in space and here on Earth.”

Inspiration4 commander Jared Isaacman flies with USAF Thunderbirds

Inspiration4 is the world’s first all-civilian mission to space. The mission will be commanded by Jared Isaacman, the 38-year-old founder and Chief Executive Officer of Shift4 Payments and an accomplished pilot and adventurer. Named in recognition of the four-person crew that will raise awareness and funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, this milestone represents a new era for human spaceflight and exploration.

Chris Sembroski will represent generosity - an individual who has supported the St. Jude mission: Finding cures. Saving children.

Dr. Sian Proctor is an inspirational entrepreneur who has used the power of Shift4Shop to launch her dream business.

Jared Isaacman is the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments (NYSE: FOUR) as well as an accomplished aviator and adventurer.

Hayley Arceneaux is a physician assistant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and pediatric cancer survivor.

Elevate your business to the stars by launching your online store with Shift4Shop.

Be a part of history as we raise $200 million to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude and help make a brighter future for children everywhere.

Inspiration4 will have four seats representing the mission pillars of Leadership, Hope, Generosity, and Prosperity. We have partnered with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to select the crew member for the Generosity seat, and Shift4Shop to fulfill the Prosperity seat.

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