Elon Musk invites Jared Isaacman on Inspiration 4

SpaceX billionaire founder, Elon Musk, invited Jared Isaacman on the first non-governmental crewed mission to space, set to launch from NASA's historic Launch Complex 39A no earlier than Sept. 15.

The mission, called Inspiration4, aims to raise $200 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and will be the first all-civilian mission to orbit the Earth.

Isaacman, 38, is a technology entrepreneur and pilot who founded Shift4 Payments, a payment processing company. He is also a member of the board of directors of the experimental aircraft company, Eclipse Aerospace.

In December 2020, Isaacman announced that he had purchased four seats on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft for the Inspiration4 mission. Isaacman will serve as the mission's commander, and the other three seats will be filled by individuals who are selected through a public contest.

The Inspiration4 mission is scheduled to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew will spend several days in orbit before returning to Earth. During their time in space, the crew will conduct a number of experiments and outreach activities aimed at inspiring future generations of space explorers.

The Inspiration4 mission is a major milestone in the commercialization of space. It is the first time that a private company has launched a crew of civilians into orbit. The mission is also a significant step towards making space travel more accessible to the general public.

Here are some additional facts about the Inspiration4 mission:

• The mission is expected to last for three days.
• The crew will orbit the Earth at an altitude of about 575 kilometers (360 miles).
• The crew will conduct a number of experiments, including a study of the effects of space travel on the human body.
• The crew will also participate in a number of outreach activities, including a live question-and-answer session with students.
• The Inspiration4 mission is being funded by Isaacman and his Shift4 Payments company.
• The mission is expected to generate a significant amount of publicity for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.