We all know about the first all-civilian trip to space by SpaceX which the company is planning to perform at the end of 2021.
The latest announcement from SpaceX reveals that Hayley Arceneaux, a physician assistant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, will be the second crew member on this all-civilian trip with Billionaire and Shift4Payments founder Jared Isaacman.
Jared Isaacman is funding this all-civilian mission which he named Inspiration4 mission.
As part of the Inspiration4 mission, Arceneaux and Isaacman will orbit Earth for up to five days in the Crew Dragon capsule along with members who are selected based on “mission pillars of leadership, hope, generosity and prosperity,”.
She represents “hope” added SpaceX.
Arceneaux was diagnosed with bone cancer at 10, she had some bones in her left leg replaced with titanium as part of her treatment.
She took her treatment at St. Jude, where she now works with children who are being treated for lymphoma and leukaemia. She will become the first person with a prosthetic body part to go to space.
The mission is slated for late 2021, and if it goes as scheduled, she (who is 29 years old) could also be the youngest American to go to space.
The selection process also involves a fundraising effort for St. Jude, where people can donate to St. Jude for chances to be the third member.
The fourth crew member will be the winner of a contest sponsored by the Jared Isaacman, who is funding and commanding the mission. Fourth member will be selected from entrepreneurs who build an online store on Shift4’s newly launched e-commerce platform.