01of 09Over the MoonJOHN KRAUS/© 2021 Inspiration4 2021/Netflix/AFP via GettyOn Wednesday night, Sept. 15, Chris Sembroski, Dr. Sian Proctor, Jared Isaacman and Hayley Arceneaux (pictured left to right)will make historyas the first all-civilian mission to blast off into outer space.Shooting from theKennedy Space Centerin Florida with a launch window opening at 8:02 p.m., the four will fly in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule and tour Earth’s orbit for three days.Earthside, the Inspiration4 mission is fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with a $200 million goal – to which Isaacman has already pledged $100 million, per thepediatric care center.
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Over the Moon
JOHN KRAUS/© 2021 Inspiration4 2021/Netflix/AFP via Getty
On Wednesday night, Sept. 15, Chris Sembroski, Dr. Sian Proctor, Jared Isaacman and Hayley Arceneaux (pictured left to right)will make historyas the first all-civilian mission to blast off into outer space.
Shooting from theKennedy Space Centerin Florida with a launch window opening at 8:02 p.m., the four will fly in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule and tour Earth’s orbit for three days.
Earthside, the Inspiration4 mission is fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with a $200 million goal – to which Isaacman has already pledged $100 million, per thepediatric care center.
02of 09Focused FourDr. Sian Proctor and Hayley Arceneaux.Courtesy SpaceX"Every day of my life, there is some aspect of Inspiration4 preparation — exercise, study, planning, etc. Every few weeks we train either on site at SpaceX in California or another location for specialized sessions," Arceneauxwrote in a diary entry for PEOPLEJuly 12.“At one point, we got into our assigned seats for the first time, while wearing our space suits. As I sat in my window seat in the leftmost position, I looked to my right at my crewmates Sian, Chris and Jared, and it just all felt so right and exciting. It felt like we were all exactly where we were supposed to be.”
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Focused Four
Dr. Sian Proctor and Hayley Arceneaux.Courtesy SpaceX
“Every day of my life, there is some aspect of Inspiration4 preparation — exercise, study, planning, etc. Every few weeks we train either on site at SpaceX in California or another location for specialized sessions,” Arceneauxwrote in a diary entry for PEOPLEJuly 12.
“At one point, we got into our assigned seats for the first time, while wearing our space suits. As I sat in my window seat in the leftmost position, I looked to my right at my crewmates Sian, Chris and Jared, and it just all felt so right and exciting. It felt like we were all exactly where we were supposed to be.”
03of 09Making an ImpactCourtesy St. Jude Children’s Research HospitalThe astronaut-in-training works as a physician assistant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, where she beat cancer at age 10. In a July 20 diaryentry,Arceneaux said that speaking to young patients in the grade school program on the hospital campus was one of the “most special” assignments ahead of her adventure.“I was so honored and excited, especially because I work with a lot of these awesome kids every day. Over three different classes, with kids aged 5 to 10, I told them about the mission, but also kept saying, ‘I’m doing this, and you can too,’ " she said of her inspirational message.
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Making an Impact
Courtesy St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
The astronaut-in-training works as a physician assistant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, where she beat cancer at age 10. In a July 20 diaryentry,Arceneaux said that speaking to young patients in the grade school program on the hospital campus was one of the “most special” assignments ahead of her adventure.
“I was so honored and excited, especially because I work with a lot of these awesome kids every day. Over three different classes, with kids aged 5 to 10, I told them about the mission, but also kept saying, ‘I’m doing this, and you can too,’ " she said of her inspirational message.
04of 09Reaching New HeightsHayley Arceneaux training on Mount Rainier.Hayley Arceneaux/Inspiration4In a July 28essay,Arceneaux recalled the Inspiration4 crew’s intense hike of Mt. Rainier to train and bond as a group. The astronaut-to-be has a prosthesis in her leg from beating osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in childhood, and cited her young patients at St. Jude as her inspiration while trudging to her destination at 10,500 ft.“When I was climbing Mt. Rainier, I thought about how I could share the experience with [the kids]. Climbing a mountain is a lot like battling cancer. You have to keep the end goal in mind, but also take one — sometimes hard, painful, difficult — step at a time to reach your destination,” she wrote.
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Reaching New Heights
Hayley Arceneaux training on Mount Rainier.Hayley Arceneaux/Inspiration4
In a July 28essay,Arceneaux recalled the Inspiration4 crew’s intense hike of Mt. Rainier to train and bond as a group. The astronaut-to-be has a prosthesis in her leg from beating osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in childhood, and cited her young patients at St. Jude as her inspiration while trudging to her destination at 10,500 ft.
“When I was climbing Mt. Rainier, I thought about how I could share the experience with [the kids]. Climbing a mountain is a lot like battling cancer. You have to keep the end goal in mind, but also take one — sometimes hard, painful, difficult — step at a time to reach your destination,” she wrote.
05of 09Bringing a Little Bit of HomeHayley Arceneaux.John Kraus/Inspiration4Each crew member on the Crew Dragon capsule can bring a carry-on with personal mementos, and Arceneaux planned to pack a cherished photo of her late father Howard, who died of cancer three years ago.“We were so close, and he was one of my biggest cheerleaders — especially during my cancer diagnosis and treatment at St. Jude,” shewroteon Aug. 3. “I’ve thought about him so much during this incredible experience and wish I could share it with him.”
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Bringing a Little Bit of Home
Hayley Arceneaux.John Kraus/Inspiration4
Each crew member on the Crew Dragon capsule can bring a carry-on with personal mementos, and Arceneaux planned to pack a cherished photo of her late father Howard, who died of cancer three years ago.
“We were so close, and he was one of my biggest cheerleaders — especially during my cancer diagnosis and treatment at St. Jude,” shewroteon Aug. 3. “I’ve thought about him so much during this incredible experience and wish I could share it with him.”
06of 09Toasting to TakeoffHayley Arceneaux.Courtesy Hayley ArceneauxThe civilian astronaut thanked her lucky stars for great friends in a post on Aug. 16, opening up about the small “Lift Off” party thrown in her honor ahead of the mission.“My friends have been so uplifting and encouraging not just now, but throughout my life. For the people in my krewe [close group] it’s about putting each other before ourselves,” she said. “Of course, I won’t be able to physically see them at lift off, but I know they will be there with me then and every moment of this incredible journey.”
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Toasting to Takeoff
Hayley Arceneaux.Courtesy Hayley Arceneaux
The civilian astronaut thanked her lucky stars for great friends in a post on Aug. 16, opening up about the small “Lift Off” party thrown in her honor ahead of the mission.
“My friends have been so uplifting and encouraging not just now, but throughout my life. For the people in my krewe [close group] it’s about putting each other before ourselves,” she said. “Of course, I won’t be able to physically see them at lift off, but I know they will be there with me then and every moment of this incredible journey.”
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New Maverick in Town
Hayley Arceneaux.Courtesy John Kraus and Inspiration4
Trainingramped upin August for the SpaceX crew, and Arceneaux was proud to push herself during fighter jet training in Montana.
“I texted my orthopedic surgeon afterward to tell himmy internal prosthesiscan officially handle extreme force. He said that he knew a long time ago he had to stop putting limitations on me and what my body can do.”
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Scrubbing Up for Space
Courtesy John Kraus and Inspiration4
“Almost 20 years later, I am in my dream job as a physician assistant at St. Jude. I never imagined I’d add space medicine to my resume, but here we are.”
09of 09Shooting for the StarsHayley Arceneaux.Courtesy of Hayley ArceneauxIn her final diary for PEOPLE on Sept. 14, Arceneaux said she felt “calm and excited” ahead of the life-changing trip.“I plan on eating a glazed donut, my favorite kind, the morning of launch; I’ll be wearing my go-to red lipstick; and I’ll be launching into orbit with the memories of all my friends that didn’t make it through cancer, all the kids who are in the battle right now, and all the other survivors — in my mind and heart,” she said. “It’s definitely not lost on me how lucky I am to be where I am.”
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Shooting for the Stars
Hayley Arceneaux.Courtesy of Hayley Arceneaux
In her final diary for PEOPLE on Sept. 14, Arceneaux said she felt “calm and excited” ahead of the life-changing trip.
“I plan on eating a glazed donut, my favorite kind, the morning of launch; I’ll be wearing my go-to red lipstick; and I’ll be launching into orbit with the memories of all my friends that didn’t make it through cancer, all the kids who are in the battle right now, and all the other survivors — in my mind and heart,” she said. “It’s definitely not lost on me how lucky I am to be where I am.”
source: people.com
