SpaceX will be launching four civilians on a Crew Dragon capsule into orbit during the fourth quarter of 2021.
Dubbed as “the world’s first all-civilian mission”, the spacecraft is on a mission to raise support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Named Inspiration4, the capsule will be commanded by Jared Issacman – founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments.
The three other seats will be given to crew members who will represent leadership, hope, generosity, and prosperity, according to a press release.
One seat is already reserved for a St. Jude ambassador. The other two will be given as prizes through online competitions. Running from February 1 to February 28, donors of St. Jude and customers of Issacman’s Shift4Shop can have a chance to win on Inspiration4’s website.
Once chosen, crew members will undergo training led by SpaceX. In a call with reporters after the announcement, Musk said NASA is aware of the mission “and is supportive.” (via CNBC)
Although it is a SpaceX mission, Inspriation4’s mission length and other similar parameters will be decided by Issacman. However, the assumed length will be two to four days.
Announcing the first commercial astronaut mission to orbit Earth aboard Dragon → https://t.co/MbESvnakAD pic.twitter.com/ukLsjFfRjk
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 1, 2021
