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Inspiration4

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Inspiration4
Launch of Inspiration4 on aFalcon 9
Mission typePrivate spaceflight
OperatorSpaceX
COSPAR ID2021-084AEdit this at Wikidata
SATCATno.49220
Websiteinspiration4Edit this at Wikidata
Mission duration
  • 2 days, 23 hours, 3 minutes
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftCrew DragonResilience
Spacecraft typeCrew Dragon
ManufacturerSpaceX
Launch mass12,519 kg (27,600 lb)
Landing mass9,616 kg (21,200 lb)
Crew
Members
Start of mission
Launch date16 September 2021, 00:02:56UTC
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5(B1062.3)
Launch siteKennedy Space Center,LC-39A
ContractorSpaceX
End of mission
Recovered byMVGO Searcher
Landing date18 September 2021, 23:06:49 UTC[1]
Landing siteAtlantic Ocean
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit[2]
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Altitude585 km (364 mi)
Inclination51.6°
Period96.2 minutes
Inspiration4 spaceflight participant mission patchSpaceX mission patch
Inspiration4 mission patches (SpaceX patch on right)

Proctor, Isaacman, Sembroski and Arceneaux

Inspiration4(stylized asInspirati④n) was a 2021human spaceflightoperated bySpaceXon behalf ofShift4 PaymentsCEOJared Isaacman.[3]The mission launched theCrew DragonResilienceon 16 September 2021 at 00:02:56UTC[a]fromKennedy Space Center'sLaunch Complex 39Aatop aFalcon 9launch vehicle.It placed the Dragoncapsuleintolow Earth orbit[4]with mission termination on 18 September 2021 at 23:06:49 UTC[4]whenResiliencesplashed down in the Atlantic Ocean.

The trip was the firstorbital spaceflightwith only private citizens aboard and was part of a charitable effort on behalf ofSt. Jude Children's Research HospitalinMemphis, Tennessee.[3]Isaacman was named mission commander. The hospital selected two commercial astronauts:Hayley ArceneauxandChristopher Sembroski.Shift4 selectedSian Proctorwho was named pilot.

The mission overlapped with the 55th anniversary ofGemini 11,which in September 1966 had anapogeeof approximately 1,368 km (850 mi), the highest Earth orbit ever reached on a crewed flight. The Inspiration4 flight reached an orbital altitude of approximately 585 km (364 mi), the highest achieved sinceSTS-103in 1999 and the fifth-highest Earth orbital human spaceflight overall. By comparison, theInternational Space Stationis at 408 km (254 mi). The Inspiration4 mission concluded with the first crewedsplashdownin the Atlantic Ocean sinceApollo 9in 1969.

Trip and crew

[edit]

Inspiration4 was the first human spaceflight toorbitEarth with only private citizens on board.[5][b]The trip promoted and raised money forSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital.The crew and trip intended to raise upwards of US$100 million to expand St. Jude's childhood cancer research.[7][8][9]Isaacman and his wife, Monica, personally donated US$125 million to the hospital, and contributions by SpaceX founder Elon Musk (US$55 million) and many others ultimately raised the total given to St. Jude to more than US$243 million, far more than initial target amount.[10]

Inspiration4 was led byShift4 PaymentsCEOJared Isaacman,an experienced pilot with qualification in military jets.[11][12]Isaacman procured the flight and its four seats fromSpaceXand donated two of the seats to St. Jude.Hayley Arceneaux,aphysician assistantat the hospital and a survivor ofbone cancer,was selected by the hospital to board the flight.[13]St. Jude raffled the second seat as part of a successful campaign to raise US$200 million for the hospital, termedSt. Jude Mission: Inspired.[14][15]A raffle draw competition was held, in which entrants needed to be a US citizen and had to donate a significant amount of money between US$10 to US$10,000. Kyle Hippchen, fromEmbry–Riddle Aeronautical University,donated US$600 and ultimately won the raffle but decided to give the seat to his friend,U.S. Air ForceveteranChristopher Sembroski,who had also entered the raffle by donating US$50. Hippchen weighed in over the allowed limit.[16][17][18][19]EntrepreneurSian Proctorwas selected by Shift4 Payments to board the flight through a competition modeled afterShark Tankthat rewarded the best business idea to make use of Shift4's commerce solutions.[20]The panelists in the competition includedSalesforceCEOMarc Benioff,Fast Companyeditor Stephanie Mehta, former NASA engineerMark RoberandBar RescuehostJon Taffer.[21]

Resiliencewas the first spacecraft to orbit with an all-rookie crew sinceShenzhou 7in 2008. The last timeNASAlaunched an all-rookie orbital crew wasSTS-2in 1981.[c]

All four received commercial astronaut training by SpaceX. The training included lessons in orbital mechanics, operating in a microgravity environment, stress testing, emergency-preparedness training and mission simulations.[20][22]Afterwards, on 25 September 2021,CNNreported that an alarm had sounded during the journey which was found to be associated with an apparent toilet malfunction.[23]

Position Commercial Astronauts
Mission Commander United StatesJared Isaacman[14]"Rook"
First spaceflight
Pilot United StatesSian Proctor[24]"Leo"
First spaceflight
Medical Officer United StatesHayley Arceneaux[13]"Nova"
First spaceflight
Payload Specialist United StatesChristopher Sembroski[24]"Hanks"
First spaceflight

Spacecraft

[edit]
Artist's rendering ofResiliencefor Inspiration4, with itsnose coneopen, revealing thecupola

The Inspiration4 mission was the second flight ofResilience,following its use forCrew-1.[20][25]It also marked the fourth crewed flight of aCrew Dragon.[26]The spacecraft'sdocking adapter,normally used to dock with theInternational Space Station,was replaced for this mission by a single monolithic multi-layer domedplexiglass[27]window inspired by theCupolamodule,allowing 360° views outsideResilience's nose.[28]The cupola was protected during launch and re-entry by the spacecraft's retractable nosecone, which also housed a custom camera, enabling photography of the vehicle's interior and exterior during flight.[29]The cupola is removable so thatResiliencecan easily be reconfigured for missions in the future that require docking.[29]FourDraco thrusterson the spacecraft's nose necessitated the installation of four heat shield tiles on the cupola's exterior, which protected the plexiglass dome from engine exhaust during propulsive maneuvers.[29]

Flight

[edit]
The launch of Inspiration4

Resiliencelaunched on 16 September 2021 at 00:02:56UTC(15 September 2021 at 20:02:56EDT)[30]atopFalcon 9 Block 5boosterB1062fromKennedy Space Center'sLaunch Complex 39A.It was the third flight of this booster.[31]The spacecraft was launched into aninclinationof 51.6°. WithResiliencein orbit, three Dragon spacecraft were simultaneously orbiting Earth, asEndeavourflies the Crew-2 mission andC208flies theCRS-23mission. Inspiration4 was the first crewed orbital spaceflight sinceSTS-125in 2009to not visitaspace station.[32]

Each crew member was assigned an individualcall signfor communications. Isaacman's call sign was "Rook", Proctor's was "Leo", Arceneaux's was "Nova" and Sembroski's was "Hanks."[33]

As the second stage engine of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket cut off, Arceneaux reached into a pouch strapped to her leg and pulled out a plush toy dog that represents the therapy dogs employed by St. Jude. The toy, attached to a tether, began to float above Arceneaux's head and in doing so fulfilled its purpose as the Inspiration4 mission's "zero-g indicator". Hanging in the air, it provided a visual signal to Arceneaux and her three crewmates that they were now in the microgravity environment of outer space after reaching Earth orbit on 16 September 2021.[34]

The mission planned to include ultrasounds, microbe samples and a variety of in-flight health experiments (measure fluid shifts, record ECG activity, blood oxygen levels, heart rates, etc.) on the human bodies of ordinary citizens who have not been previously carefully screened and exhaustively trained as professional astronauts.[35]The study of the effects of spaceflight on human health and performance was done in collaboration with SpaceX, the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) atBaylor College of Medicineand investigators atWeill Cornell Medicine.[36]During the journey, an alarm had sounded, and was found to be associated with an apparent toilet malfunction.[23]

On 18 September 2021, at 23:06:49 UTC,Resiliencesplashed down in the Atlantic Ocean north ofCape Canaveraland was picked up by recovery shipGO Searcherroughly forty minutes afterward. Arceneaux was first to exit the spacecraft, followed by Proctor, Sembroski and Isaacman.[37]

Orbital altitude

[edit]
External videos
Launch and splashdown of the Inspiration4 mission onYouTube
video iconInspiration4 | Launch
video iconSplashdown

The flight plan aimed for an altitude of at least 575 km (357 mi), and reached an altitude of 585 km (364 mi),[38]a height surpassingSTS-48in 1991 which had anapogeeof 580 km (360 mi), and the highest crewed spaceflight sinceSTS-103in 1999 with an apogee of 610 km (380 mi).STS-31,the launch of theHubble Space Telescope,at 621 km (386 mi) was the highest of the Space Shuttle program and third highest ever behind only two missions of theGemini Program,Gemini 10andGemini 11in 1966 with apogees of 756 km (470 mi) and 1,368 km (850 mi), respectively, making Inspiration4 the fifth highest Earth orbital crewed spaceflight in history; only 10 Apollo launches went beyond Earth's orbit. Achieving this altitude exposed the craft and crew to different radiation levels than those found on theInternational Space Station.[5]The investigation of the effects of spaceflight on human health and performance was done in collaboration with SpaceX, the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) atBaylor College of Medicine,and investigators atWeill Cornell Medicine.[36]

Inspiration4 orbited at this altitude for two days and then lowered its altitude to about 365 km (227 mi) which it kept during the final day of the mission, in preparation for the re-entry and landing.[39]

Media coverage

[edit]

Media coverage of the mission has been widely positive, noting its charitable focus, duration and altitude achieved.[40][41]The mission was documented in real time in a five-episodedocuseriesentitledCountdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space,released on the subscription streaming serviceNetflixin September 2021. The crew also starred in a Netflix special named "A StoryBots Space Adventure"released also in Netflix. The special is also posted in Youtube.[42]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^15 September 2021, 20:02:56 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
  2. ^Many sources use the term "all-civilian".The Washington Postclarified its use of this term in one of its headlines when it later said "comprised entirely of civilians – nongovernment astronauts".[6]
  3. ^STS-2 CommanderJoe Englewas a NASA space flight rookie, but had been awardedU.S. Air ForceAstronaut wings for passing 50 mi (80 km) while flying theX-15rocket plane.

References

[edit]
  1. ^"JSR No. 797".Jonathan's Space Report. 18 September 2021.Retrieved19 September2021.
  2. ^Inspiration4 (30 March 2021).Meet The First All-Civilian Space Crew | Inspiration4 Livestream.Retrieved30 March2021– via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^abOverbye, Dennis(21 September 2021)."What a Fungus Reveals About the Space Program - One thing's for sure: Escaping the dung heap doesn't come cheap".The New York Times.Retrieved24 September2021.
  4. ^abGorman, Steve (13 September 2021)."SpaceX prepares to send first all-civilian crew into orbit".Reuters.Archivedfrom the original on 22 September 2021.Retrieved17 September2021.
  5. ^abDavenport, Christian (13 September 2021)."They" could be our neighbors ", and they're going to space. SpaceX gets ready to fly the Inspiration4 crew".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on 13 September 2021.Retrieved15 September2021.
  6. ^Davenport, Christian (15 September 2021)."SpaceX makes history by launching Inspiration4, first all-civilian crew, to orbit".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on 16 September 2021.Retrieved16 September2021.The Inspiration4 mission may be the first time a spaceflight crew is comprised entirely of civilians – nongovernment astronauts. There has been a long history of ordinary citizens going to space. In fact, that was NASA's goal at the beginning of the space shuttle era – to fly regular people on a routine basis
  7. ^Davenport, Christian (25 February 2021)."As private companies erode government's hold on space travel, NASA looks to open a new frontier".The Washington Post.Retrieved26 February2021.
  8. ^Chow, Denise (1 February 2021)."SpaceX announces first mission to space with all-civilian crew".NBC News.Archivedfrom the original on 1 February 2021.Retrieved1 February2021.
  9. ^Burghardt, Thomas (1 February 2021)."SpaceX announces Inspiration4, all-civilian space mission in support of St Jude's Hospital".NASASpaceFlight.Retrieved23 February2021.
  10. ^"SpaceX Flight Ultimately Raised $243M for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital".Archived fromthe originalon 12 March 2022.Retrieved13 February2022.
  11. ^Segran, Elizabeth (13 April 2015)."Meet The Fighter-Jet-Flying 32-Year-Old On Top Of The Payments Industry".Fast Company.Retrieved23 August2020.
  12. ^Tognini, Giacomo (7 October 2020)."Meet The New Billionaire Who Dropped Out of High School and Flies Fighter Jets for Fun".Forbes.Retrieved1 February2021.
  13. ^abDunn, Marcia (22 February 2021)."Bone cancer survivor to join billionaire on SpaceX flight".Associated Press.AP News.Archivedfrom the original on 22 February 2021.Retrieved22 February2021.
  14. ^abLeinfelder, Andrea (1 February 2021)."SpaceX, tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman invite the public to apply for ride into space".Houston Chronicle.Archivedfrom the original on 1 February 2021.Retrieved1 February2021.
  15. ^"New fundraising challenge tied to Inspiration4 launches today for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital"(Press release). St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. 1 March 2021.Retrieved16 September2021.
  16. ^Dunn, Marcia (27 January 2022)."He won a trip to space. Then he gave it away to a friend".Associated Press.Retrieved28 January2022.
  17. ^Muhlstein, Julie (18 April 2021)."Everett's own spaceman thrilled to join all-civilian mission".The Everett Herald.Retrieved23 April2021.
  18. ^Cuthbertson, Anthony (2 April 2021)."SpaceX reveals civilian passengers for trip into space this year".The Independent.Retrieved3 April2021.
  19. ^Sheetz, Michael (15 September 2021)."SpaceX's historic Inspiration4 launch reaches orbit successfully carrying private crew".CNBC.Retrieved16 September2021.
  20. ^abcChang, Kenneth (1 February 2021)."To Get on This SpaceX Flight, You Don't Have to Be Rich, Just Lucky".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on 1 February 2021.Retrieved1 February2021.
  21. ^Bianco, Brian (24 February 2021)."Inspiration4 Reveals Panel of Influential Judges to Select Entrepreneur to Join First All-Civilian Mission to Space"(Press release). Business Wire.Retrieved24 February2021.
  22. ^Stimac, Valerie (1 February 2021)."SpaceX Announces First All-Civilian Mission To Space, Inspiration4".Forbes.Retrieved21 March2021.
  23. ^abWattles, Jackie (25 September 2021)."An alarm went off on SpaceX's all-tourist space flight. The problem was the toilet".CNN.Retrieved25 September2021.
  24. ^abSheetz, Michael (30 March 2021)."Meet the full crew of the Inspiration4 mission flying with SpaceX in September".CNBC.Archivedfrom the original on 31 March 2021.Retrieved31 March2021.
  25. ^Berger, Eric (1 February 2021)."SpaceX announces first" free flyer "human spaceflight".Ars Technica. Archived fromthe originalon 1 February 2021.Retrieved1 February2021.
  26. ^Christian Davenport (15 September 2021)."SpaceX makes history by launching Inspiration4, first all-civilian crew, to orbit".The Washington Post.
  27. ^Clark, Stephen (17 September 2021)."Inspiration4 crew describes" incredible perspective "from space".Spaceflight Now.Retrieved4 December2022.
  28. ^Malik, Tariq (3 September 2021)."SpaceX shows off its huge dome window on Dragon for private Inspiration4 spaceflight".SPACE.Retrieved3 September2021.
  29. ^abc"SpaceX Inspiration4 astronauts reveal Dragon's" cupola "in the flesh".Teslarati. 2 September 2021.Retrieved2 September2021.
  30. ^Kan, Michael (16 September 2021)."Inspiration 4 Successfully Blasts Off for the First All-Civilian Orbital Space Flight".pcmag.PC Mag.Retrieved16 September2021.
  31. ^Thompson, Amy (16 September 2021)."SpaceX launches four civilians into orbit on historic Inspiration4 flight".Space.Retrieved17 September2021.
  32. ^Williams, Matt (16 September 2021)."SpaceX Launches Four Civilians to Space with Inspiration4!".Universe Today.Retrieved17 September2021.
  33. ^Thompson, Amy (15 September 2021)."Inspiration4's call signs: The crew of SpaceX's all-civilian mission have special nicknames".Space.Retrieved15 September2021.
  34. ^"Inspiration4" space puppy "doubles as zero-g indicator and fundraiser".Space. 15 September 2021.Retrieved16 September2021.
  35. ^Thompson, Amy (15 September 2021)."Inspiration4 crew planning ultrasounds, microbe samples and more to understand health during flight".Space.Retrieved16 September2021.
  36. ^abGohd, Chelsea (1 September 2021)."Inspiration4 astronauts to conduct health research on private SpaceX mission".Space.Retrieved16 September2021.
  37. ^"SpaceX's private Inspiration4 crew returns to Earth with historic splashdown off Florida coast".Space. 18 September 2021.Retrieved19 September2021.
  38. ^@spacex (15 September 2021)."Second phasing burn complete. Dragon and the @inspiration4x crew have reached a circular orbit of 585km – a new Dragon altitude record"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  39. ^@planet4589 (18 September 2021)."Latest TLEs for Insp4 show it in a 360 x 369 km x 51.6 deg orbit following yesterday evenings orbit lowering burns "(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  40. ^"SpaceX's latest mission was an infomercial (For charity)".15 September 2021.
  41. ^"Alien Newsletter #10: The Simultaneous Rise and Fall of the Anthropocene".16 September 2021.
  42. ^A StoryBots Space Adventure FULL EPISODE | Netflix Jr,retrieved17 March2024
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