Inspiration4: SpaceX's historic private spaceflight in photos
In September 2021, SpaceX launch its first-ever all-civilian spaceflight with four crewmembers on a mission called Inspiration4.
The mission sent the crew on a three-day mission to orbit Earth in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. It lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Sept. 15, riding to orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The privately funded mission raised $200 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. See photos of the historic mission here by clicking on the right arrows above.
In this photo, the Inspiration4 crew poses for a photo on SpaceX's access arm at Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew includes (pictured from left to right): billionaire Jared Isaacman, contest winner Sian Proctor, childhood cancer survivor Hayley Arceneaux and raffle winner Chris Sembroski.
Related: Watch SpaceX's Inspiration4 astronauts see Earth through their huge window for the 1st time (video)
The four civilian astronauts of SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission pose for a group portrait during a dress rehearsal of their planned launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A on Sept. 15, 2021.
Chris Sembroski, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Jared Isaacman pose in front of their SpaceX launch pad, Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, March 29, 2021.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon that will launch the private orbital spaceflight dubbed Inspiration4, is seen during launch preparations.
SpaceX's Crew Dragon Resilience is seen with the Inspiration4 mission logo inside its hangar ahead of a planned Sept. 15, 2021 launch from Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The Inspiration4 crew board their Teslas during a launch rehearsal on Sept. 12, 2021.
SpaceX's all-civilian Inspiration4 astronauts are all smiles after splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 18, 2021, to end their historic three-day trip to orbit on the Crew Dragon Resilience.
Inspiration4 lifted off successfully on Sept. 15, 2021.
Inspiration4's Falcon 9 rocket rises off the pad on Sept. 15, 2021.
The plume of fumes generated by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying four civilian astronauts of the Inspiration4 mission on their historic orbital trip.
"Jude," the Inspiration4 crew's zero-g indicator, floats at the end of a tether after entering Earth orbit on Sept. 15, 2021.
Hayley Arceneaux enjoying views from the tailor-made cupola in the Crew Dragon capsule.
The crew of SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission speak with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital patients from space during their mission.
Inspiration4 commander Jared Isaacman.
The Inspiration4 crew posing inside the Dragon Crew cupola against the backdrop of Earth.
Inspiration4 mission specialist Chris Sembroski watches "Spaceballs" as the crew prepares for landing.
The Crew Dragon Resilience splashes down in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida, on Sept. 18, 2021.
The four private astronauts of SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission smile after returning to Earth on Sept. 18, 2021 to end their historic three-day spaceflight on a Dragon spacecraft.
Shift4 Payments founder and CEO Jared Isaacman will command a SpaceX Crew Dragon spaceflight in late 2021 and is donating three seats to fly with him in support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Hayley Arceneaux, a 29-year-old survivor of childhood bone cancer, will join the private Inspiration4 SpaceX mission led by Jared Isaacman.
An "analog astronaut" and daughter of an Apollo tracking engineer, Dr. Sian Proctor will serve as pilot on the Inspiration4 mission, backing up commander Jared Isaacman throughout the three-day spaceflight.
A former Space Camp counselor who now works in the aerospace industry, Chris Sembroski will serve as a mission specialist on the Inspiration4 all-civilian spaceflight, helping to manage science experiments and communications with mission control.
The Inspiration4 crew: Hayley Arcenaux (top left), Chris Sembroski (top right), Sian Proctor (bottom left) and Jared Isaacman (bottom right).
Jared Isaacman trains for the Inspiration4 mission.
Jared Isaacman (foreground) and Sian Proctor (background) train for Inspiration4 at SpaceX HQ.
Jared Isaacman trains in the Crew Dragon spacecraft at SpaceX HQ.
Sian Proctor trains for her role as pilot of a SpaceX Crew Dragon for the upcoming Inspiration4 private space mission.
The Inspiration4 crew at SpaceX ready to train for their mission.
Inspiration4 crew experiences weightlessness during zero-g flight.
Sian Proctor hiking Mount Rainier with the rest of the Inspiration4 crew.
The Inspiration4 private astronauts.
Inspiration4 mission crew members (from left) Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Chris Sembroski pose at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, March 29, 2021.
Chris Sembroski (at left) and Sian Proctor won their seats on board the Inspiration4 mission, joining the first all-civilian crew.
Billionaire Jared Isaacman is announcing contests for two seats on his Inspiration4 private spaceflight on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft during the 2021 Super Bowl on Feb. 7, 2021.
Director Bryce Dallas Howard directed the Inspiration4 Super Bowl ad for billionaire Jared Isaacman's private spaceflight on a SpaceX spacecraft.
Director Bryce Dallas Howard directed the Inspiration4 Super Bowl ad for billionaire Jared Isaacman's private spaceflight on a SpaceX spacecraft.
Director Bryce Dallas Howard directed the Inspiration4 Super Bowl ad for billionaire Jared Isaacman's private spaceflight on a SpaceX spacecraft.
Director Bryce Dallas Howard directed the Inspiration4 Super Bowl ad for billionaire Jared Isaacman's private spaceflight on a SpaceX spacecraft.
In Bozeman, Montana the Inspiration4 crew—Chris Sembroski, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Jared Isaacman—pose with the team preparing for fighter jet training for the upcoming Inspiration4 Mission.
While completing fighter jet training the Inspiration4 crew flies high above Bozeman, Montana.
High above Bozeman, Montana, the Inspiration4 crew participates in fighter jet training.
The Inspiration4 crew—Chris Sembroski, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Jared Isaacman—pose with the Inspiration4 insignia flag.
The Inspiration4 crew—Chris Sembroski, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Jared Isaacman—walk to the fighter jets in Bozeman, Montana.
The Inspiration4 crew—Chris Sembroski, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Jared Isaacman—pose with fighter jets during training in Bozeman, Montana.
Some of the Inspiration4 crew take a group selfie during fighter jet training in Bozeman, Montana.
During a break from fighter jet training for the upcoming mission, the Inspiration4 crew—Chris Sembroski, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Jared Isaacman— visit the 'A Shortfall of Gravitas' droneship.
The Inspiration4 crew—Chris Sembroski, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Jared Isaacman—pose with their signed Falcon 9 booster.
The Inspiration4 crew—Chris Sembroski, Hayley Arceneaux, Sian Proctor and Jared Isaacman—pose with their signed Falcon 9 booster.
SpaceX's Inspiration4 civilian astronauts Hayley Arceneaux (left) and Jared Isaacman walk out to Tesla vehicles for a trip during a dress rehearsal of their planned launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A on Sept. 15, 2021.
The four civilian astronauts of SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission sit inside their Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft for a dress rehearsal of their planned launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A on Sept. 15, 2021.
Hayley Arceneaux, a physician assistant, flew to space with Inspiration4.
Hayley Arceneaux, 29, was both the youngest American to fly to space and the first person with a prosthesis to fly to space.
Chris Sembroski, the mission specialist for the Inspiration4 mission, poses in the crew access arm.
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk with the Inspiration4 crew before their historic liftoff.
The four Inspiration4 crewmembers shortly before boarding their Crew Dragon capsule, a vehicle named Resilience.
