SpaceX has publicly announced details of its inaugural all-civilian spaceflight, an exclusive and costly journey into orbit anticipated to launch before the end of 2021. This groundbreaking mission will utilize SpaceX’s Dragon crew spacecraft, propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket, and will feature Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman alongside three additional crew members. These crewmates will be chosen through a sponsorship initiative involving Isaacman, his company, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, representing a unique approach to expanding the reach of space travel.

Dubbed Inspiration4, the mission already boasts a substantial online presence, including a dedicated website featuring a countdown to launch. Two of the four seats aboard will be offered to individuals affiliated with St. Jude’s. One seat is designated for a healthcare professional working on the front lines at the children’s research hospital, and another will be awarded to a member of the public selected through an online contest requiring a donation to St. Jude’s. The remaining seat will be granted to an entrepreneur who establishes a business utilizing Shift4’s e-commerce platform.

As part of the Inspiration4 initiative, Isaacman has pledged $100 million to St. Jude’s and aims to secure an additional $100 million or more through contributions generated by the program. Isaacman founded Shift4 Payments at the age of 16; the company now processes over $200 billion in annual transactions. Prior to this, he established and managed a private air force, which was later acquired by Blackstone, a prominent global private military contractor. Isaacman is a qualified pilot, holding certifications for both commercial and military aircraft, and his company previously provided pilot training for the U.S. Air Force.

Isaacman will assume the role of Dragon flight commander, a logical choice considering the spacecraft’s automated operation. Having a seasoned pilot onboard ensures a level of expertise should any unforeseen circumstances arise during the mission. His extensive piloting experience, coupled with his financial resources, positions him well for this leadership role.

The mission profile includes comprehensive pre-launch commercial astronaut training, covering topics such as orbital mechanics and maneuvering in zero gravity. The launch will originate from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the spacecraft orbiting Earth multiple times – approximately once every 90 minutes, according to SpaceX. The duration of the flight is projected to last between two and four days, as suggested by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, with the final length determined by Isaacman. Upon completion of the mission, the spacecraft will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and splash down in the Atlantic Ocean, where it will be recovered by a SpaceX team. Musk indicated that the Dragon capsule currently docked with the International Space Station is slated for this flight, and that NASA has granted its approval and is collaborating on the launch.

SpaceX had previously indicated its intention to facilitate private missions utilizing the Dragon spacecraft once it received NASA’s certification for human flight. Now, the timeline for the first dedicated private mission is clear, potentially preceding other private space tourism ventures, such as the suborbital spaceplane flights offered by Virgin Galactic.

When questioned about the mission’s target orbit, Musk responded that the ultimate destination is determined by the mission commander, stating, “we’ll take you there.” Isaacman added that the specific orbit will be finalized and announced shortly. Regarding the items passengers may bring onboard, Musk again deferred to the commander, who expressed a desire to incorporate some comforts for the crew.