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

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

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

Cancer survivor on SpaceX mission is bringing a special memento from her late father

Inspiration4 Reveals Panel of Influential Judges to Select Entrepreneur to Join First All-Civilian Mission to Space

Four Civilian Astronauts. Three Days in Orbit. One Giant Leap. Meet the Inspiration4 Crew

Inspiration4 launch nears as intense training schedule continues

29-Year-Old St. Jude PA, Cancer Survivor Chosen for First All-Civilian Space Trip Aboard SpaceX

Childhood cancer survivor revealed as crew member for all-civilian mission to space

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL, September 12, 2021 – Teams from SpaceX and Inspiration4 are now targeting a five-hour launch window for the Inspiration4 mission opening at 8:02 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, September 15. If needed for any reason, a backup window is available opening at 8:05 p.m. EDT on Thursday, September 16. 

Teams selected the five-hour launch window based upon weather forecasts for the launch site, along the ascent corridor, and possible landing locations off the coasts of Florida for a safe return of the crew and splashdown a few days later. The latest forecast from the U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 70% chance of favorable conditions for liftoff at the launch complex.

SpaceX and the crew of Inspiration4 are conducting dry dress – a full rehearsal of launch day activities – tonight followed by a static fire test of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle. Activity in advance of launch has been picking up with the crew’s last day of training in Hawthorne on Wednesday, arrival in Florida on Thursday, and several payloadannouncements, as well as Dragon’s mate with Falcon 9 and roll to vertical on the pad at historic Launch Pad 39A. 

For background on the Inspiration4 crew, see the original crew announcement from March 2021 as well as crew bios at https://inspiration4.com/crew. To follow Inspiration4’s journey throughout the mission, visit www.inspiration4.comand follow Twitter (@inspiration4x), Facebook (@inspiration4mission) Instagram (@inspiration4) and YouTube (@Inspiration4).

Weather Conditions 70% Favorable for Launch of Inspiration4 on Wednesday, September 15

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL, September 10, 2021 –  After completing their final day of astronaut training at SpaceX’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California on Wednesday, September 8, the crew of Inspiration4 arrived in Florida on Thursday, September 9, landing at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center just before noon. Additionally, the Dragon spacecraft that the all-civilian crew will fly aboard was transported from its processing facility on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to SpaceX’s hangar at Launch Complex 39A on Kennedy Space Center where it was mated with the Falcon 9 rocket ahead of an integrated static fire test targeted for this weekend and launch next week.

After arrival, the teams from SpaceX and Inspiration4 also met yesterday evening for a follow-on flight readiness review and an initial weather briefing. After evaluating the readiness of the Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon spacecraft, associated ground systems, recovery assets and other key elements of SpaceX’s human spaceflight system, and the current weather forecasts of conditions at the launch site, along the ascent corridor, and at the landing locations off the coasts of Florida for a safe return of the crew a few days later, teams agreed to now target no earlier than 8:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 15 for liftoff. This will allow additional time for final preparations, vehicle checkouts and data reviews. SpaceX and Inspiration4 will narrow down the launch window to five hours approximately three days before liftoff. 

For background on the Inspiration4 crew, see the original crew announcement from March 2021 as well as crew bios at https://inspiration4.com/crew. To follow Inspiration4’s journey throughout the mission, visit www.inspiration4.com and follow Twitter (@inspiration4x), Facebook (@inspiration4mission) Instagram (@inspiration4) and YouTube (@Inspiration4).

Inspiration4 Crew Arrives in Florida, Targeting September 15 Launch

Inspiration4 reveals mission payload highlights, including the first ever minted NFT song to go into space

Song from Grammy award-winning rock band Kings of Leon one of several items to be auctioned beginning Sept. 9 to support $200 million fundraising effort for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Sept. 9, 2021) – Astronauts have long brought interesting items into space, dating back to the very first Mercury mission in 1961. But with Inspiration4, the first all-civilian mission to orbit, the crew will be taking not just personal mementos but things that didn’t exist even a year ago, much less 60 years ago. Indeed, their payload will include the first-ever minted NFT song to be played in orbit, created by the Grammy Award-winning rock band Kings of Leon.

The minted NFT, a never-before-released performance of “Time in Disguise” from the band’s newest album, is among a handful of unique items that will go into orbit and be auctioned off on YellowHeart to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and its $200 million Inspiration4 fundraising campaign to accelerate research advancements and save more children worldwide.  

“We are proud to support St. Jude and its Music Gives initiative,” said Kings of Leon in a statement, which explained that Music Gives to St. Jude Kids is a way for bands, fans, and everyone in between to help ease the burden on St. Jude families while generating funds to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude: Finding cures. Saving children.® “We’re honored to participate in this historic journey in an effort to raise money for St. Jude, and we’re sending all our best to the crew of Inspiration4.” 

Hayley Arceneaux, Inspiration4’s Medical Officer, will play the NFT aboard the SpaceX Dragon vehicle. She is a St. Jude physician assistant and cancer survivor who will be the youngest American, the first pediatric cancer survivor, and the first person with a prosthesis to travel to space.

The Inspiration4 payload auction items will also include a variety of iconic and culturally significant items donated to St. Jude, including:

· Inspiration4 mission jackets featuring unique artwork by St. Jude patients, and original artwork by the Inspiration4 crew members, that were created by Space for Art Foundation co-founders artist Ian Cion and retired NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, and handmade by spacesuit replica artist Ryan Nagata. 

· 66 pounds of hops that, upon return, will be used to brew an out-of-this world beer by the brewers of Samuel Adams. As the official beer of Inspiration4, Sam Adams has committed a maximum $100,000 donation to St. Jude.

· A Fisher Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Space Pen & Coin Set containing a piece of material from Apollo 11.  

· A ukulele from Martin Guitar that crew member Chris Sembroski will play in space. 

· 50 art NFTs from 50 different artists will be auctioned on Origin Protocol's NFT platform in collaboration with Subtractive, including an NFT that crew member Dr. Sian Proctor will bring into space that was also a piece of physical art that previously traveled to the Mariana Trench, making it the first piece of art that went to the furthest ocean depths and then into orbit.

· A handful of plastic and plush STEM toys based on the five characters from the popular animated STEM series, “Space Racers.”

· A mini-astronaut plush that will be delivered to the winning bidder with an original collar designed by renowned artist Romero Britto.

· The recent TIME magazine with cover feature of the four crew members that they will autograph after the SpaceX Dragon capsule returns.

· IWC Schaffhausen has designed and donated four unique, space-themed Pilot’s Watch Chronographs representing the mission’s values of Leadership, Hope, Generosity and Prosperity. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition Inspiration4 watches will be worn by the four crew members on their journey into space, before being auctioned off to benefit St. Jude. 

· Customized Montblanc StarWalker Writing Instruments and stationeries for the crew to write about their journey in space.

The auction opens on Thursday, Sept. 9, and will run through November, with different items being available at various points during the overall auction. All items can be bid on by visiting stjude.org/inspiration4. 

“One of the key things we’ve focused one since Inspiration4 was first announced was how we will be able to make a significant contribution to help St. Jude cure childhood cancer here on Earth,” said Jared Isaacman, Shift4 Payments CEO and commander of Inspiration4. “Every item we are bringing is going to help us reach our goal and allow us to share this experience with so many others who want to offer support.”

The funds raised by the auction will contribute to the more than $128 million already committed toward the $200 million Inspiration4 fundraising campaign, according to Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“The impact of the Inspiration4 mission has been immeasurable, serving as an incredible platform to educate and engage millions in the movement to find cures and deliver care for childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases through accelerated research and treatment,” said Shadyac. “The auction is a critical component of the overall campaign as it enables us to reach new audiences and supporters as we work to fulfill our mission.”

In addition to the aforementioned items and others that will be auctioned off to benefit 

St. Jude, each crew member is bringing a myriad of personal mementos, including family items and school memorabilia. Additionally, the payload will also carry items that illuminate the St. Jude mission while honoring the patients and families who have been impacted by childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. 

Visit stjude.org/inspiration4 to learn more.

Access Electronic Press Kit for Additional Images

The Inspiration4 mission, commanded by Jared Isaacman, the 38-year-old founder and chief executive officer of Shift4 Payments [NYSE:FOUR] and accomplished pilot, was ideated by Isaacman to send a humanitarian message of possibility, represent a new era for human space exploration, and inspire support for St. Jude. For background on the Inspiration4 crew, see the original crew announcement from March 2021 as well as crew bios at Inspiration4.com. Inspiration4 will launch from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on September 14, 2021. Upon conclusion of the multi-day journey, Dragon will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere for a soft water landing off the coast of Florida.

To learn more about Inspiration4 and how to support this historic journey to space, visit www.Inspiration4.com and follow the mission on social media on Twitter (@inspiration4x), Facebook (@inspiration4mission), Instagram (@inspiration4) and YouTube (@Inspiration4) to receive the latest news on mission training and preparation.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter, Instagram  and subscribing to its YouTube channel.

DKC for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL, September 18, 2021 – After three days orbiting Earth, the astronauts of Inspiration4 flying aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft safely splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 7:06 p.m. EDT. The return marks the completion of the world’s first all-civilian human spaceflight to orbit, which launched on a flight-proven SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021.

Teams on SpaceX’s Go Searcher recovery ship are in the process of securing the spacecraft to be hoisted onto the main deck of the ship, where the Inspiration4 crew will egress the spacecraft and receive medical checks before a helicopter ride back to Kennedy Space Center.

The mission completed several historic firsts, including the:

· First all-civilian human spaceflight to orbit 

· First person to fly to space with a prosthetic

· Farthest flight for a human spaceflight since the Hubble missions

· First time SpaceX has operated three Dragons in space

· First free-flight of a Dragon spacecraft on a human spaceflight mission

· Largest contiguous window ever flown in space

· First splashdown of a Dragon crew in the Atlantic Ocean

· First thrice-flown Falcon 9 booster to launch a human spaceflight mission

Finally, true to the mission’s name and purpose, Inspriation4 has raised nearly $154M dollars and counting for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.

To learn more and see highlights from the Inspiration4 mission, visit www.inspiration4.com and follow Twitter (@inspiration4x), Facebook (@inspiration4mission) Instagram (@inspiration4) and YouTube (@Inspiration4). To support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and learn more about auction items from the flight and additional support opportunities, visit stjude.org/inspiration4. 

Inspiration4 Crew Makes Evening Splashdown, Completing World’s First All-Civilian Orbital Mission to Space

Inspiration4 Mission Announces Splashdown Time to Return from Orbit

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL, September 17, 2021 – Tonight Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian human spaceflight mission to orbit, shared the crew would return tomorrow, September 18, with a targeted splashdown at 7:06 p.m. EDT in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. To prepare for this return, Dragon completed two burns tonight to reduce the spacecraft’s altitude to approximately 365km and line up the ground track with the landing site. A timeline of activities for Dragon’s return to Earth and splashdown is available on SpaceX’s website.

The Inspiration4 crew has had a busy almost 48 hours in space, with activities including:

- A live inflight update showcasing some of what they have been doing in space at 5 p.m. EDT on September 17.

- A recorded interview (captured September 16) with a few patients of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® to give them a first look of the spacecraft’s cupola observation window and answer questions.

- The opportunity to ring the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange on September 17.

- Enjoying fresh food throughout the mission. 

- And talking with a number of supporters during both days of the mission so far, including actor Tom Cruise, SpaceX Chief Engineer Elon Musk, and the crew’s families and close friends.  

The mission has also seen significant fundraising support, having now raised nearly $150M to help cure childhood cancer back on Earth. Started by an initial $100 million gift from Isaacman to St. Jude, Inspiration4 has a fundraising goal to raise $200 million through February 2022 to help accelerate research advancements and save more children worldwide. There continues to be new auction items and ways to support being shared during and after the mission. To get involved, click here. 

The mission can be tracked at www.spacex.com/launches through their Dragon Tracker tool. To see updates on Inspiration4’s journey throughout the mission, visit www.inspiration4.com and follow Twitter (@inspiration4x), Facebook (@inspiration4mission) Instagram (@inspiration4) and YouTube (@Inspiration4). Additionally, TIME Studios is producing a Netflix documentary series based on the historical rookie crew with episodes now streaming. 

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL, September 15, 2021 – On September 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 as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 lifted off from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. 

“Our crew carries the responsibility and importance of this mission as we prepare to blast off,” said Inspiration4 Commander Jared Isaacman just before launch. “We have been well-prepared for the challenges ahead of us the next three days and look forward to sharing our experience with the world as we continue to bring attention to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® here on earth.”

Since the mission’s announcement in March 2021, the Inspiration4 crew has spent the past six months completing a wide range of training activities including centrifuge training, Dragon simulations, observations of other launch operations, Zero-G plane training, altitude training and additional classroom, simulation and medical testing. This intensive, focused preparation was essential to helping four diverse strangers grow into their new roles as the first all-civilian astronaut crew to orbit Earth.

The crew’s collective goal has not only been to fly to space but also make a significant contribution in the fight to cure childhood cancer back on Earth. Started by an initial $100 million gift from Isaacman to St. Jude, Inspiration4 has a fundraising goal to raise $200 million through February 2022 to help accelerate research advancements and save more children worldwide. To date, the mission has a commitment of more than $130 million with new auction items and ways to support being shared during and after the mission. To get involved, click here. 

“We are thankful to Jared for his incredible leadership as the commander of the historic mission and for his work helping to raise $200 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “The significance of Inspiration4 cannot be overstated. The mission ushers in a new era in citizen space travel and gives hope to children. Cancer is diagnosed each year in about 400,000 children worldwide. Curing catastrophic diseases in children is a multi-trillion-dollar, multi-year problem and the public’s support – through initiatives like Inspiration4 – makes it possible for us to raise the critical funds needed to help save children everywhere.”  

The Inspiration4 mission marks several historic milestones for human space exploration. They will be the first all-civilian crew to orbit Earth, the first free-flight Crew Dragon mission, and the first orbital human spaceflight mission that will not dock with a space station since the final Hubble mission on STS-125 in 2009. Inspiration4 is being monitored at every step by SpaceX mission control as the spacecraft orbits the planet every 90 minutes along a custom flight path. The crew is targeting an approximate 575 km orbit, flying farther than any human since Hubble, for an expected mission duration of approximately three days. To learn about the research and activities the crew will participate in during the mission, see the previous announcement here.

“The all-civilian Inspiration4 astronauts are paving the way for a future where space is more accessible to all who wish to go, and we are so proud that they entrusted us to fly them,” said SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell. “On behalf of all SpaceX employees, I want to thank the crew and their families for allowing us to be a part of their historic mission.”

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.

The mission can be tracked at spacex.com/launches through their Dragon Tracker tool. To see updates on Inspiration4’s journey throughout the mission, visit www.inspiration4.com and follow Twitter (@inspiration4x), Facebook (@inspiration4mission) Instagram (@inspiration4) and YouTube (@Inspiration4). Additionally, TIME Studios is producing a Netflix documentary series based on the historical rookie crew with episodes now streaming. 

Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian orbital mission to space, is commanded by Jared Isaacman, the 38-year-old founder and chief executive officer of Shift4 Payments (NYSE:FOUR). The mission is named in recognition of the four-person crew’s mission to inspire support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and send a humanitarian message of possibility while representing a new era for human spaceflight and exploration. To learn more about Inspiration4, visit www.inspiration4.com and follow Twitter (@inspiration4x), Facebook (@inspiration4mission) Instagram (@inspiration4) and YouTube (@Inspiration4).

Inspiration4 Crew Launches First All-Civilian Orbital Mission to Space

Inspiration4 ‘Go’ for First All-Civilian Orbital Mission to Space

HAWTHORNE, CA, September 3, 2021 – Teams from SpaceX and Inspiration4 met yesterday at SpaceX’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California to evaluate the readiness of the Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon spacecraft, ground systems, recovery assets, crew training, and other key elements of SpaceX’s human spaceflight system for Inspiration4 – the historic first all-civilian human spaceflight mission to orbit. Upon conclusion of the Flight Readiness Review, teams are proceeding toward a targeted launch on Wednesday, September 15 UTC (September 14 EDT) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A backup launch opportunity is available on Thursday, September 16 UTC (September 15 EDT). Both 24-hour launch windows start at 12:00 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Approximately three days before liftoff, SpaceX will narrow down the launch window to five hours based upon weather conditions at the launch site, along the ascent corridor, and at landing locations off the coasts of Florida for a safe return of the crew and splashdown a few days later.

The Inspiration4 crew – consisting of Mission Commander Jared Isaacman, Mission Pilot Dr. Sian Proctor, Medical Officer Hayley Arceneaux, and Mission Specialist Chris Sembroski – are scheduled to arrive in Florida on Thursday, September 9 to begin final preparations for their mission. For background on the Inspiration4 crew, see the original crew announcement from March 2021 as well as crew bios at https://inspiration4.com/crew. 

Since the March 2021 announcement, the Inspiration4 crew has focused extensively on mission training and preparation, spending the past six months completing a wide range of training activities including centrifuge training, Dragon simulations, observations of other SpaceX launch operations, Zero-G plane training, altitude training and additional classroom, simulation and medical testing. This focused preparation was essential in team development and being ready to execute their role as the first commercial crew to orbit the Earth. 

To follow Inspiration4’s journey throughout the mission, visit www.inspiration4.com and follow along on Twitter (@inspiration4x), Facebook (@inspiration4mission) Instagram (@inspiration4) and YouTube (@Inspiration4). 

Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian orbital mission to space, will be commanded by Jared Isaacman, the 38-year-old founder and chief executive officer of Shift4 Payments (NYSE:FOUR). The mission is named in recognition of the four-person crew’s mission to inspire support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and send a humanitarian message of possibility while representing a new era for human spaceflight and exploration. The crew will undergo commercial astronaut training by SpaceX before embarking on a targeted launch on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft from the historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in September 2021. Isaacman has donated the three mission seats alongside him to crew members who will represent the mission pillars of leadership, hope, generosity and prosperity. To learn more about Inspiration4, including how to support and potentially join this historic journey to space, visit www.inspiration4.com and follow Twitter (@inspiration4x), Facebook (@inspiration4mission) Instagram (@inspiration4) and YouTube (@Inspiration4).

Inspiration4 Crew Will Conduct Health Research to Further Human Exploration of Space

Historic mission to advance science and medicine for human health during spaceflight 

LOS ANGELES, August 30, 2021 – The crew of Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian human spaceflight mission to orbit, announced today that they will partake in a first-of-its-kind health research initiative to increase humanity’s knowledge on the impact of spaceflight on the human body. Once in orbit, the crew will perform carefully selected research experiments on human health and performance, which will have potential applications for human health on Earth and during future spaceflights. Additionally, SpaceX, the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) at Baylor College of Medicine and investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine will collect environmental and biomedical data and biological samples from Inspiration4’s four crew members before, during, and after this historic spaceflight. 

“The crew of Inspiration4 is eager to use our mission to help make a better future for those who will launch in the years and decades to come,” said Jared Isaacman, commander of the Inspiration4 mission. “In all of human history, fewer than 600 humans have reached space. We are proud that our flight will help influence all those who will travel after us and look forward to seeing how this mission will help shape the beginning of a new era for space exploration.”

SpaceX, TRISH, and investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine aim to continue broadening access to space medicine research by making all biomedical data collected for the Inspiration4 mission accessible through an open data repository funded and overseen by TRISH that can be easily accessed for research purposes. Empowered by NASA’s Human Research Program, TRISH is a virtual institute that finds and funds disruptive science and medical technology in order to reduce health and performance risks in space explorers. The Inspiration4 crew will conduct the following TRISH-sponsored research:

Collect research-grade ECG activity, movement, sleep, heart rate and rhythm, blood oxygen saturation, cabin noise and light intensity.

Perform a series of tests in the Cognition app designed to assess changes in behavioral and cognitive performance. This is the same app that is currently used by astronauts in NASA-funded research studies.

Scan organ systems via a Butterfly IQ+ Ultrasound device, which is designed with artificial intelligence guidance for non-medical experts. Data collected will determine if non-medical experts can self-acquire clinical grade images without guidance from ground support and will provide a timeline of biological changes before and during spaceflight. This device is also currently being tested by astronauts on the International Space Station.

Collect and test drops of blood during spaceflight for markers of immune function and inflammation using a state-of-the-art miniaturized device called the Vertical Flow Immunoassay (VFI). 

Use balance and perception tests pre-flight and immediately post-flight to measure sensorimotor adaptation during changes of gravity. These tests are currently performed by astronauts upon return from spaceflight.

Archive, fully analyze, and share resulting biomedical samples and data in collaboration with investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine and research data in an open format database to enable greater collaborative research.

In addition, SpaceX is collaborating with investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine to perform a longitudinal, multi-omic analysis of the crew, including genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, microbiome, metabolome, exosome, telomere, single-cell V(D)J immunophenotyping and epitope maps, and spatial transcriptome analysis. These samples and data will be added to a planned Biobank that will hold cryogenically-frozen samples and data from the Inspiration4 mission. 

Investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine have worked closely with SpaceX’s medical team on the Inspiration4 sample collection and aim to replicate many of the same protocols and experiments that were pioneered in the NASA Twins Study and the Biomolecular Sequencer Missions. WorldQuant is providing funding support for the work at Weill Cornell Medicine. The planned Biobank will hold aliquots of the human, microbial, and environmental specimens that are collected before, during, and after missions and enable long-term research and health monitoring for astronauts. 

SpaceX is targeting September 15 for Falcon 9’s launch of the Inspiration4 mission from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The three-day mission will target approximately a 575 km orbit, flying farther from Earth than any human spaceflight since the Hubble Space Telescope repair missions. Inspiration4’s goal is to inspire humanity and raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Click here to join the St. Jude fundraising adventure.

About the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH)

Led by Baylor College of Medicine’s Center for Space Medicine, TRISH is a consortium that includes partners Caltech and MIT. NASA recently awarded the institute a six-year extension to further its work delivering disruptive solutions that mitigate biomedical risks for human space exploration while advancing terrestrial health technologies. Learn more about TRISH at bcm.edu/spacehealth and follow them on Facebook (@BCMTRISH), Twitter (@BCMSpaceHealth) and Instagram (@bcm_spacehealth).

Documentary Series Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission To Space Premieres In Near Real-Time Before And After The Mission Launch 

A StoryBots Space Adventure Answers Kids’ Most Pressing Questions 

This September, four civilians will launch into space for a three-day trip orbiting Earth and reaching an altitude higher than that of the International Space Station (ISS). The SpaceX Dragon mission, dubbed Inspiration4, is the most ambitious step to date in the rapidly developing age of civilian space exploration, making history as the first all-civilian mission to orbit.

Netflix members around the world can follow these civilian astronauts and their historic journey throughout the month:

Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission To Space, the first Netflix documentary series to cover an event in near real-time, will premiere in five parts leading up to and following the mission.  

In this ambitious, quick-turnaround series with exclusive access to the groundbreaking mission, TIME Studios, Known, and producer Connor Schell, along with director Jason Hehir and the team behind The Last Dance, will take viewers behind the scenes with the four crew members -- from their unconventional selection and intensive months-long commercial astronaut training, through the intimate and emotional moments leading up to liftoff. The final episode, which premieres just days after the mission is completed, will feature unprecedented access inside the spacecraft capturing the launch and the crew's journey to space, as well as their return home to Earth.

Production Companies: TIME Studios, Known, Words & Pictures

Director and Executive Producer: Jason Hehir (The Last Dance)

Executive Producers: Connor Schell (30 for 30, The Last Dance), Libby Geist (O.J.: Made in America, The Last Dance), and Aaron Cohen for Words & Pictures; Ian Orefice, Alexa Conway, and Rebecca Gitlitz for TIME Studios; Ross Martin, Brad Roth, and Mark Feldstein for Known.

Produced By: Jonathan D. Woods (A Year in Space) and Jake Rogal (The Last Dance)

A StoryBots Space Adventure is a hybrid live-action animation special for kids and families to watch together before the mission

The civilian space travelers from Inspiration4 will help the StoryBots answer some of kids' most pressing questions -- like how does a rocket work, how do they train, and how do they eat and sleep in space. 

The special is scripted by veteran StoryBots writer Erik Weiner and features a new original song performed by Big Freedia.

StoryBots is the children’s learning and entertainment brand behind the hit Emmy Award-winning series Ask The StoryBots, created by Evan and Gregg Spiridellis. The show follows a team of colorful characters who live in the world inside our devices and help answer kids’ biggest questions.

Led and commanded by Jared Isaacman, the 38-year-old founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, the Inspiration4 mission is also intended to raise funds and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The crew was selected to represent the four pillars of the mission: Leadership, Hope, Prosperity, and Generosity.

Joining Isaacman aboard Inspiration4 are: 

Hayley Arceneaux, 29, a physician assistant at St. Jude and pediatric cancer survivor. As the mission’s Chief Medical Officer, she will be the first person to travel to space with a prosthesis — an artificial left femur that replaced the bone she lost to her disease at age 10. Hayley, who spent a year at St. Jude receiving life-saving treatment including several surgeries and many rounds of chemotherapy, will also be the youngest American and the first pediatric cancer survivor to go into space. 

Dr. Sian Proctor, 51, a professor of geosciences and two-time NASA astronaut candidate who long dreamed of going to space. As she now realizes her dream, she will bring a picture of her father, who worked for NASA during the Apollo era, along with her. Proctor will serve as the Mission Pilot, backing up the Commander and supporting related needs throughout the mission.

Chris Sembroski, 41, a former member of the U.S. Air Force who served in Iraq and now works as a Lockheed Martin engineer. He made a donation to St. Jude and was gifted the seat to join the mission. Sembroski will serve as the Mission Specialist, helping to manage payload, science experiments, communications to mission control, and more.

September 6: Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission To Space episodes 1-2 premiere

September 13: Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission To Space episodes 3-4 premiere 

September 14: A StoryBots Space Adventure special premieres 

September 15: Targeted launch of the Inspiration4 mission 

End of September: Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission To Space feature-length finale premieres

From one of the most globally iconic brands, TIME Studios is an Emmy Award®-winning television, film and immersive studio focusing on the development, production and distribution of truth-based premium unscripted and scripted premium storytelling that moves the world. With technical innovation and a brand defining visual language that dates back 98 years, TIME Studios aims to impact communities and the world at large with ideas that forge true progress. Combining the industry’s leading creators with TIME, one of the most trusted brands that reaches an audience of over 100 million people globally, TIME Studios is uniquely positioned to bring massive audiences to the world’s most impactful stories. Recent projects include, Black Gold (Paramount+), Big Vape (Netflix), John Lewis: Good Trouble (CNN Films), Amazing Grace (Neon), Right to Offend (A&E), Ricky Powell: The Individualist (Showtime), Mass Effect: The Story of YouTube, Kid of the Year (Nickelodeon/CBS), TIME 100 (ABC) and the first scripted project for TIME Studios, Women of the Year (Amazon). 

Known is a modern marketing company engineered for the unprecedented challenges and opportunities facing marketers today. Known pairs Ph.D. data scientists with award-winning creatives, expert research teams and strategists. Known is anchored by two decades of groundbreaking market research and data science capabilities, which uniquely empower our marketing strategy and acclaimed creative groups, who produce some of the most innovative, cutting-edge creative work in culture. The result? Marketing that is predisposed to succeed and be persistently optimized, directly impacting clients' bottom lines. Clients span the leading brands in entertainment, finance, technology, media, CPG, health care, real estate and many other categories.  Known is currently producing Hulu’s first-ever after-show for “The Handmaid's Tale” and has produced original series and specials for NBCUniversal, WarnerMedia and Discovery Networks.  Known has over 350 employees in six U.S. cities including Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, Boston and New York and has won multiple Emmys, Clios, Effies and Cannes Lions Awards. Known was named ProMax 2020 Global Agency of the Year.

Words & Pictures, founded by Connor Schell and Chernin Entertainment in 2021, is a production studio with a mission to produce high-end, culturally relevant nonfiction content. The Words & Pictures team, which includes award winning producers Libby Geist and Aaron Cohen, is led by the creators and producers of the groundbreaking 30 for 30 series, The Last Dance, and the 2017 Academy-Award winning “O.J.: Made in America.” 

Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with over 209 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

The Stories of the World’s First All-Civilian Mission to Orbit Come to Netflix This September 

New Crew Members Representing Prosperity and Generosity Join Hope and Leadership to Complete the Crew Manifest

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – MARCH 30, 2021 – (BUSINESSWIRE) – Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian mission to space, today announced the final two members of the four-person crew that will undertake a historic voyage to the stars later this year. Christopher Sembroski of Everett, WA and Dr. Sian Proctor of Tempe, AZ will join previously announced crew member Hayley Arceneaux under the command of Jared Isaacman. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch the crew aboard a Dragon spacecraft later this year.

The full crew will be introduced publicly today for the first time from historic Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Sembroski and Proctor will represent the mission pillars of:

• Prosperity – Dr. Proctor, a 51-year-old entrepreneur, educator, trained pilot and active voice in the space exploration community, was awarded her seat by being selected as the top entrant of an independently judged online business competition that attracted approximately 200 entries and was conducted by the eCommerce platform Shift4Shop.

“This opportunity is proof that hard work and perseverance can pay off in unimaginable ways,” said Dr. Proctor. “I have always believed that I was preparing for something special, and that moment has arrived with Inspiration4.”

Proctor will serve as the Mission Pilot and back up the commander and support related needs throughout the mission.

• Generosity – Sembroski, a 41-year-old aerospace industry employee at Lockheed Martin and United States Air Force veteran, contributed to a special fundraising campaign for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® that offered an Inspiration4 seat to a lucky donor after receiving nearly 72,000 entries. Since it was first announced in February, the campaign has raised approximately $113M with new support opportunities to come in the near future, including chances to sign up at www.stjude.org/Inspiration4 and fundraise to qualify for Inspiration4-themed incentive items, special experiences, collectible merchandise, flight-related campaign information and more.

Sembroski will serve as the Mission Specialist and will help manage payload, science experiments, communications to mission control and more.

Inspiration4 is completed by the other mission pillars of Leadership, represented by Isaacman, and Hope, represented by Arceneaux. Isaacman, the 38-year-old founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments (NYSE: FOUR) and a world record-holding pilot, created the Inspiration4 mission and donated the three crew seats to inspire humanity and raise money for the lifesaving mission of St. Jude. Arceneaux is a 29-year-old physician assistant who works at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN and joined Inspiration4 last month. In addition to working at St. Jude, she was treated as a child for bone cancer at the preeminent care and research hospital and vowed to return to serve others. Arceneaux will serve as Medical Officer overseeing medical care and experiments on the mission.

“Inspiration4’s goal is to inspire humanity to support St. Jude here on earth while also seeing new possibilities for human spaceflight,” said Isaacman. “ Each of these outstanding crew members embodies the best of humanity, and I am humbled to lead them on this historic and purposeful mission and the adventure of a lifetime.”

All crew members will undergo commercial astronaut training by SpaceX on the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft – the very same Dragon spacecraft currently attached to the International Space Station supporting the Crew-1 mission. Once Dragon returns the Crew-1 astronauts back home to Earth, the SpaceX team will inspect and refurbish the spacecraft ahead of the Inspiration4 mission. Crew member training will include a specific focus on orbital mechanics, operating in microgravity, zero gravity, and other forms of stress testing. The crew will receive emergency preparedness training, spacesuit and spacecraft ingress and egress exercises, as well as partial- and full-mission simulations.

The mission is being targeted for no earlier than Sept. 15, 2021. It will launch from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and will be carefully monitored at every step by SpaceX mission control as the spacecraft orbits the planet every 90 minutes along a customized flight path. The crew is targeting an approximate 540 km orbit, flying further than any human since Hubble, for an expected mission duration of approximately three days. In advance of the mission, the crew is working closely with SpaceX and multiple organizations to identify scientific research opportunities they can support while in orbit. Upon conclusion of the multi-day journey, Dragon will reenter Earth’s atmosphere for a soft water landing off the coast of Florida.

To learn more about Inspiration4 and how to support and follow this historic journey to space, visitwww.Inspiration4.comand follow the mission on social media on Twitter(@inspiration4x), Facebook(@inspiration4mission), Instagram(@inspiration4)and YouTube(@Inspiration4)to receive the latest news on mission training, preparation and timing.

Additional media assets available via Electronic Press Kit

solutions, delivering a complete omnichannel ecosystem that extends beyond payments to include a wide range of commerce-enabling services. The company’s technologies help power over 350 software providers in numerous industries, including hospitality, retail, F&B, ecommerce, lodging, gaming, and many more. The newly launched Shift4Shop platform offers a turnkey ecommerce experience includes a robust website builder, product and order management, customer marketing tools and more. With over 7,000 sales partners, the company securely processed more than $200 billion in payments volume for over 200,000 businesses in 2019. For more information, visit shift4.com.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.

Final Crew Members Named for World’s First All-Civilian Mission to Space

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