The businessman/entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, 37, who is founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, has chartered a SpaceX Crew Dragon flight to low-Earth orbit for a human flight in aid of charity. The US$300 million mission, which will take place in late 2021, will carry Isaacman, who is also a trained pilot and founder of the private military jet operator Draken International. He will act as the pilot astronaut. Three other passengers will be carried on the mission funded by US$100 million from Isaacman, with the US$200 million balance planned to be raised via an online competition.
Crew Dragon Endeavour approaches the ISS for docking. Note the open nose cap. Courtesy: NASA TV
The flight to low Earth orbit (LEO) will not include a docking with the International Space Station (ISS) and will last up to four days. One of the major beneficiaries of the “Inspiration4” charitable mission will be St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. One of the three spare seats is reserved for a medical professional or care worker from the hospital.
