SpaceX to launch first civilian orbital mission aboard Dragon spacecraft in Q4FY21
Astronaut training for the Inspiration4’s crew will be conducted by SpaceX on its Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft February 02, 2021 / 12:00 PM IST
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Dragon spacecraft launches from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. The unmanned Falcon rocket blasted off with a just-in-time-for-Christmas delivery for the International Space Station. The first-stage booster took flight again after a six-month turnaround. On board was a Dragon supply ship, also a second-time flier. It s NASA s first use of a reused Falcon and only the second of a previously flown capsule. (Representative Image: PTI)
SpaceX, US billionaire tie up for first all-civilian flight to orbit slated for late 2021
The Dragon capsule had become the first spacecraft to be certified by NASA since the Space Shuttle nearly 40 years ago.
Feb 02, 2021 14:32:56 IST
SpaceX announced Monday it s aiming to launch this year the first all-civilian mission into Earth s orbit, led by a tech billionaire who plans to raffle off one of the spots aboard the craft. Entrepreneur Jared Isaacman is to be joined by three other novice astronauts for a multi-day journey into space, including one lucky winner of a drawing. It s a once-in-a-lifetime adventure: a journey into outer space on the first all-civilian space flight, according to a website dedicated to the mission.
SpaceX announces spaceflight with civilian crew lmtonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lmtonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Once the individuals, of which there can be four per journey, are in space, they will orbit Earth over a multi-day journey .
When in space, the craft will orbit Earth every 90 minutes, giving the ordinary person a chance to see views which have so far been limited to a few selected astronauts.
The first flight will be led by tech entrepreneur and pilot Jared Isaacman, in a mission dedicated to the St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Mr Isaacman is donating $100million (£72million) to the research foundation, with another of the seats being offered to a frontline worker from St Jude.
After last year carrying astronauts into space as part of a regular crewed flight program for NASA, SpaceX is now looking to extend this experience to everyday people, outlining plans for the world’s first all-civilian space mission.