Inspiration4

Inspiration4 was a private crewed spaceflight that launched on September 15, 2021. It was commanded by Jared Isaacman, a businessman and pilot, who also funded the mission. The mission's primary goal was to raise awareness and funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The crew consisted of four civilian astronauts: Jared Isaacman, pilot; Sian Proctor, mission specialist; Hayley Arceneaux, medical officer; and Christopher Sembroski, mission specialist.

The mission was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a Dragon spacecraft. The Dragon spacecraft was modified with a cupola, a large transparent dome offering unparalleled views of Earth and space. Inspiration4 orbited the Earth for three days, reaching an altitude of 585 kilometers (364 miles), which was higher than the International Space Station. During the flight, the crew conducted various scientific experiments and outreach activities.

Hayley Arceneaux, a childhood cancer survivor and physician assistant at St. Jude, was the first person with a prosthesis to travel to space. Sian Proctor, a geologist and professor, served as the pilot and was the first African American woman to pilot a spacecraft. Christopher Sembroski, a data engineer, was selected from a pool of donors to St. Jude.

The mission concluded on September 18, 2021, with a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. Inspiration4 was a landmark mission, demonstrating the feasibility of private citizens undertaking orbital spaceflights for charitable purposes and scientific advancement. It highlighted the growing role of private companies in space exploration.

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