Inspiration4 crew arrives at Kennedy Space Center days before first all-civilian launch
Four non-professional astronauts arrived in Kennedy Space Center Thursday ahead of their SpaceX rocket launch next week, which will mark the first time a human spaceflight from Florida will not have a single NASA astronaut onboard.
Educator, Air Force veteran get seats on billionaireโs private SpaceX flight
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ A billionaireโs private SpaceX flight filled its two remaining seats Tuesday with a scientist-teacher and a data engineer whose college friend actually won a spot but gave him the prize. Their SpaceX Dragon capsule โ currently parked at the International Space Station for NASA โ will launch no earlier than mid-September, aiming for an altitude of 335 miles (540 kilometers). Thatโs 75 miles (120 kilometers) higher than the International Space Station and on a level with the Hubble Space Telescope. AdThe capsule will be outfitted with a domed window in place of the usual space station docking mechanism for their trip. The St. Jude physician assistant was treated there as a child for bone cancer.
Last call: Contest for first private trip on SpaceXโs Crew Dragon ends soon
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. โ The stakes are high, about 200 miles high, for fundraisers, YouTubers and creative space enthusiasts vying to be on board the first private trip to orbit Earth in a SpaceX Crew Dragon. The Inspiration 4 contest established by Jared Isaacman, the CEO of Shift4 Payment, will send four private citizens to low-Earth orbit later this year in the spacecraft. Interested space travelers could enter the competition by either donating to St. Jude or using Shift4Shop to share their business stories on social media. Brevard County launch photographer John Kraus, 21, threw his hat in the ring raising nearly $10,000 for St. Jude with his original photography. The four-person crew will launch from Kennedy Space Centerโs launchpad 39A.
Bone cancer survivor to join billionaire on SpaceX flight
(Mike Brown/American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities, St. Jude Childrenโs Research Hospital via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ After beating bone cancer, Hayley Arceneaux figures rocketing into orbit on SpaceXโs first private flight should be a piece of cosmic cake. When she was 10, she had surgery at St. Jude to replace her knee and get a titanium rod in her left thigh bone. Isaacman announced his space mission Feb. 1, pledging to raise $200 million for St. Jude, half of that his own contribution. As the flightโs self-appointed commander, he offered one of the four SpaceX Dragon capsule seats to St. Jude. One will be a sweepstakes winner; anyone donating to St. Jude this month is eligible.
Meet the bone cancer survivor who will become the youngest American in space
When she was 10, she had surgery at St. Jude to replace her knee and get a titanium rod in her left thigh bone. AdโMy battle with cancer really prepared me for space travel,โ Arceneaux said in an interview with The Associated Press. Isaacman announced his space mission Feb. 1, pledging to raise $200 million for St. Jude, half of that his own contribution. As the flightโs self-appointed commander, he offered one of the four SpaceX Dragon capsule seats to St. Jude. One will be a sweepstakes winner; anyone donating to St. Jude this month is eligible.
Super Bowl ad offers a chance to go to space in Crew Dragon
Super Bowl ads get a lot of attention every year, but one really sticks out this year, promising a chance for people watching to go to space. The billionaire businessman hopes to raise more than $200 million for St. Jude with this trip to space. One seat goes to someone who donated to St. Jude and the other seat goes to an entrepreneur who uses Shift4Shop, an e-commerce tool for small businesses run by Isaacmanโs company, to build their businessโs website. AdThe four-person civilian crew will launch from Kennedy Space Centerโs launchpad 39A onboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft, spending several days in low-Earth orbit. Youโll be able to watch the ad on News 6 during the Super Bowl.
SpaceX flight gives St. Jude hospital a cosmic funding boost
Isaacman announced Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, that he aims to use the trip to raise more than $200 million for St. Jude. (St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital via AP)NEW YORK โ SpaceXโs first all-civilian space flight set for late this year will provide an out-of-this-world fundraising opportunity for St. Jude Childrenโs Research Hospital, which says it expects to generate $200 million for cancer research and other causes. St. Jude, which specializes in researching and treating pediatric diseases, also stands to increase awareness of its mission. The fourth seat will go to a frontline healthcare worker at St. Judeโs hospital to inspire hope about its mission. Inspiration4 should live up to its name for children at St. Judeโs hospital, Shadyac said.
Businessman buys SpaceX Crew Dragon trip to space, plans to take along 3 others
A 37-year-old businessman has bought four tickets to space with SpaceX and plans to take along three everyday people with him all while raising money for sick children. After the all-civilian spaceflight crew is announced, Isaacman plans to train with them, including some team bonding. โI am going to ensure that I introduce some very uncomfortable and stressful situations here on Earth long before we go up in space,โ Isaacman said. Since NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurleyโs historic spaceflight, the Crew Dragon has now shuttled four other astronauts to the ISS with plans for two more astronaut launches this year for NASA and its international partners. Axios Space recently announced it has purchased a private spaceflight from SpaceX and four international businessmen will fly in Crew Dragon in early 2022.
US billionaire buys SpaceX flight to orbit with 3 others
Isaacman announced Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, that he aims to use the trip to raise more than $200 million for St. Jude. (St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ A U.S. billionaire who made a fortune in tech and fighter jets is buying an entire SpaceX flight and plans to take three โeverydayโ people with him to circle the globe this year. A female health care worker for St. Jude already has been selected for the mission. Anyone donating to St. Jude in February will be entered into a random drawing for seat No. While Isaacman and wife, Monica, managed to keep his space trip hush-hush over the months, their daughters couldnโt.