SpaceX Launches Civilian Crew from K.S.C.
Local News Staff 
Central Florida residents witnessed to history tonight, with the launch of an all-civilian crew aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon.
The four members of the Inspiration4 mission are part of the Crew Dragon's fourth journey into space with humans aboard. The first three missions carried astronauts to the International Space Station, and this mission will qualify as the first in history to be conducted without any government scientists, engineers or professional space crew.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off tonight from KSC’s Launch Pad 39-A at roughly 8 PM. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron predicted a forecast of 80% chance for clear skies, with minimal gusts and precipitation but non appeared.
Jared Isaacman, a generous 38-year-old billionaire who footed the bill for the trip, said that as much as the trip to space represented a dream come true for him, he also wanted to share that dream with others, not just “fishing buddies” from his wealthy social and professional circles, offering one seat to Hayley Arceneaux, a woman who survived childhood cancer and now works at the hospital where she was treated, and another to Air Force veteran Chris Sembrosk, one of the thousands who donated to a fundraiser for that hospital.
The billionaire reserved the final spot for a community college professor by the name of Sian Proctor.
“We understand the significance of this mission. We understand how lucky and fortunate we are,” Isaacman said. “We try to be very thoughtful on our approach on this to hopefully set the standard for other missions to follow, and that in our mind is a lot about the responsibilities we have here on Earth in addition to what we hope can be achieved in space.”
Issacman positioned the mission to achieve both the betterment of human life on this planet and gains in space exploration, raising $200 million for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital based in Memphis, Tennessee, crafting his crew around the what he calls the four pillars of inspiration: Leadership, hope, generosity and prosperity.
