SpaceX Announces Final Crew for First All-Civilian Spaceflight

Inspiration4 Mission: Complete Crew Revealed

The full roster of astronauts for the groundbreaking Inspiration4 mission, the first orbital journey with an entirely civilian crew, has now been announced. Joining previously named participants Jared Isaacman, the mission’s benefactor, and Haley Arceneaux, a St. Jude Children’s Hospital employee, are Dr. Sian Proctor and Christopher Sembroski, completing the four-person team.

Mission Details

The mission will utilize a SpaceX Dragon capsule and is currently scheduled for launch no sooner than September 15th. The anticipated duration of the flight is three days, marking a significant milestone in the democratization of space travel.

Crew Selection Process

Dr. Proctor secured her position through a competition centered around online businesses. Entrants were evaluated based on their ventures created using Isaacman’s Shift4Shop e-commerce platform.

Sembroski earned his place by contributing to the ongoing fundraising efforts for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a key component of the mission’s promotional campaign.

Inspiration4 crew member Dr. Sian Proctor. Image Credits: SpaceX

Relevant Skills and Experience

Both Proctor and Sembroski possess qualifications that likely influenced their selection. Proctor is a qualified pilot, bringing valuable flight experience to the mission.

Sembroski is an experienced aerospace professional, with recent employment at Lockheed Martin, and also served in the U.S. Air Force, adding a background in military aviation.

Inspiration4 crew member Christopher Sembroski. Image Credits: SpaceX

Competition Statistics

Inspiration4 has disclosed the number of submissions received for each selection category. The Shift4Shop competition attracted “approximately” 200 entries, suggesting the actual number may have been lower.

The St. Jude fundraising drive garnered a substantial 72,000 entries and has raised approximately $113 million to date.

Fundraising Progress

While significant, the fundraising total remains below the $200 million goal. Isaacman has personally pledged $100 million, and the campaign continues with further prizes available, despite the spaceflight opportunity being claimed.

Unique Aspects of the Campaign

The overall campaign surrounding this mission has been notably unusual in the history of space exploration. The initial announcement featured a press conference with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Isaacman, where Musk appeared unfamiliar with specific mission details.

Isaacman’s $100 million donation to St. Jude is commendable, but community donations have not yet reached expectations, currently standing at around 13% of the target.

The relatively low number of entries – “approximately 200” – in the Shift4Shop competition is particularly surprising, given the prize of a trip to space. In hindsight, this route may have offered the most realistic path to space, contingent on impressing the judging panel.

Successfully navigating the selection process and convincing the judges of your suitability would have been key to winning this unique opportunity.