Sunday, September 19, 2021

Congratulations to SpaceX and Inspiration4

I want to go to space. Always have, always will.  So the first mission to orbit with non-professional astronauts was really, really cool.  The apogee of 585 km (364 mi) was the fifth-highest altitude ever for a crewed orbital flight.  Inspiration4 raised funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, with St. Jude's Physician Assistant Hayley Arceneaux on board. After a reportedly perfect mission (except for a "minor waste management problem" - that doesn't sound like fun) that included research on space radiation at that unusual altitude, the crew splashed down Saturday evening off the Florida coast. Not many details or video clips have been released yet, but given that Elon Musk does space publicity like no one else, a lot more is forthcoming.  Congratulations to all!  

Yes, I still want to go.



SpaceX Crew Dragon at ISS docking. The Inspiration4 mission used a modified capsule with a panoramic window in place of the docking post. (photo NASA)

(no images included from this mission because all are copyright SpaceX: see the mission link above)

Also in space:

The memorable book by Michael Leinbach and Jonathan Ward, Bringing Columbia Home: The Untold Story of a Lost Space Shuttle and Her Crew will get the documentary film treatment. The authors are partners in the production. No director or release date has been announced. 

Here's the review I wrote when the book came out.


Matt Bille

Website: www.mattbille.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MattWriter








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