Mon, Sep 20, 2021
Musk Donates $50M To St. Jude Fund-Raising
After three days orbiting Earth, the astronauts of Inspiration4 flying aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft safely splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 7:06 p.m. EDT.
The return marks the completion of the world’s first all-civilian human spaceflight to orbit, which launched on a flight-proven SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021.
Dragon performed a series of departure phasing burns to leave the circular orbit of 575 kilometers and then jettisoned its trunk ahead of its deorbit burn. After re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, the spacecraft deployed its two drogue and four main parachutes in preparation for the soft water landing.
Upon splashdown, the Inspiration4 astronauts were welcomed home by the SpaceX team and quickly brought on board the recovery vessel. SpaceX transported Dragon back to Cape Canaveral for inspections and refurbishment ahead of future human spaceflight missions.
Count me in for $50M
The mission completed several historic firsts, including the:
- First all-civilian human spaceflight to orbit
- First black female spacecraft pilot
- Youngest American in space
- First person to fly to space with a prosthetic
- Farthest flight for a human spaceflight since the Hubble missions
- First time SpaceX has operated three Dragons in space
- First free-flight of a Dragon spacecraft on a human spaceflight mission
- Largest contiguous window ever flown in space
- First splashdown of a Dragon crew in the Atlantic Ocean
- First thrice-flown Falcon 9 booster to launch a human spaceflight mission
Finally, true to the mission’s name and purpose, Inspiration4 raised over $200M dollars (and counting) for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital--boosted by the Friday promise of another $50M by SpaceX's Elon Musk.
More News
Decision Altitude (DA) A specified altitude (mean sea level (MSL)) on an instrument approach procedure (ILS, GLS, vertically guided RNAV) at which the pilot must decide whether to >[...]
Aero Linx: T-34 Association, Inc. The T-34 Association was formed in July 1975 so that individuals purchasing then military surplus T-34As had an organization which would provide s>[...]
As He Released The Brakes To Begin Taxiing, The Brake Pedals Went To The Floor With No Braking Action Analysis: The pilot reported that during engine start up, he applied the brake>[...]
“Legislation like the Mental Health in Aviation Act is still imperative to hold the FAA accountable for the changes they clearly acknowledge need to be made... We cannot wait>[...]
Also: IAE Acquires Diamond Trainers, Army Drones, FedEx Pilots Warning, DA62 MPP To Dresden Tech Uni The danger to the flight training industry and our future pilots is clear. Dona>[...]
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (12.08.25): Decision Altitude (DA)
See All