Set for a Wednesday night liftoff from Cape Canaveral, SpaceX's Inspiration4 crew will become the first all-civilian mission to orbit the Earth.
A new, unique Dragon spacecraft currently sits on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center's historic Launch Complex 39A.
Credit: SpaceX
Unlike previous Dragon models, which were outfitted specifically to deliver cargo and/or crew to the International Space Station, this one has a different flight plan in store. The capsule is only intended to launch, orbit the Earth for three days, and then return to splash-down.
So, rather than having the standard docking port, there's something completely new under the nosecone. The docking port has been replaced with a three-layer observation dome known as the cupola. This will give the Inspiration4 crew — Jared Isaacman, Dr. Sian Proctor, Hayley Arceneaux, and Chris Sembroski — the best possible views during their flight.
This artist's rendition of the Inspiration4 Crew Dragon in orbit reveals the observation dome on the top of the capsule. Credit: SpaceX
According to SpaceX, this dome will be the largest contiguous space window ever flown.
This four-person crew has gone through months of training and testing. Now, they only await their 8:02 p.m. EDT launch window to open on Wednesday night. SpaceX coverage of the launch is expected to begin roughly four hours before liftoff.
Watch below: SpaceX presents launch coverage of Inspiration4, starting around 4 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, September 15.
Another somewhat unique aspect of this mission is that there is no instantaneous launch window. When Cargo Dragon and other Crew Dragon spacecraft reach T-zero for their launch, they must launch at precisely that moment to be on the right trajectory to catch up to the orbital lab and dock there. If they can't launch at that exact moment, the attempt must be postponed for another day.
In this case, since the Inspiration4 crew is not on such a tight schedule, SpaceX has planned a five-hour window for the launch. Thus, if conditions are perfect to go, they will likely lift off as soon as the launch window opens. However, the expanded launch window does give them some leeway if weather conditions are proving to be difficult to start.
If Wednesday's attempt is scrubbed for any reason, SpaceX has a backup launch window planned for Thursday night.
COOPERATIVE WEATHER
The 45th Weather Squadron, stationed at Patrick Space Force Base, issued a weather forecast for the launch window as of Tuesday morning. They are giving an 80 per cent chance of favourable weather for a Wednesday liftoff.
The only concerns noted are the potential for cumulus clouds in the area or the possibility for the rocket to fly through precipitation. Both of these factors carry certain risks of there being a lightning strike during launch.
This Day in Weather History: November 14, 1969 - Apollo 12 struck by lightning
Good weather is crucial for a space launch. Nearly 52 years ago, the Apollo 12 mission suffered two lightning strikes on the rocket that almost ended their flight to the Moon.
These days, there are strict guidelines for weather conditions leading up to a space launch.
Several Lightning Launch Commit Criteria (LLCC) are considered for a launch weather forecast. These are all conditions in the vicinity of the launch platform that indicate lightning-producing storms or conditions favourable for the rocket launch to trigger a lightning strike. Credit: U.S. Space Force 45th Weather Squadron
There is currently a 70 per cent chance of favourable weather for the Thursday backup launch window.
THE INSPIRATION4 FLIGHT
Once Inspiration4 takes off, they will be going on a flight unlike any that anyone has taken in recent history.
According to SpaceX, their spacecraft is bound for a roughly three-day orbit of the Earth. Flying at 575 kilometres above the surface, the four will be around 100 kilometres higher than any astronauts on the International Space Station. It is also higher than any civilian has ever flown.
Travelling at over 27,000 km/h, their spacecraft will circle the planet once every 96 minutes.
In their official roles, Isaacman will act as mission commander, Dr. Proctor is the flight pilot, Arceneaux is the medical officer, and Sembroski is the mission specialist. However, their real job on this flight is to inspire those who have always dreamed of going to space and inspire further support for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Partly, this comes from carrying to space several unique or historic objects that will be auctioned off to raise money for St. Jude.
These items include unique NFT artwork (and a newly minted NFT song by rock band Kings of Leon), "Space Racers" STEM toys, an astronaut plushie, mission jackets, watches, writing instruments and stationery, and more. They are even flying 66 pounds of hops into space that brewer Samuel Adams will use to "brew an out-of-this-world beer."
"One of the key things we've focused on since Inspiration4 was first announced was how we will be able to make a significant contribution to help St. Jude cure childhood cancer here on Earth," Isaacman, the CEO of Shift4 Payments and commander of Inspiration4, said in a press release last week. "Every item we are bringing is going to help us reach our goal and allow us to share this experience with so many others who want to offer support."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiVmh0dHBzOi8vY2EubmV3cy55YWhvby5jb20vc3BhY2V4cy1pbnNwaXJhdGlvbjQtbGF1bmNoLWhpc3RvcmljLWNpdmlsaWFuLTIyMzE1NTE3Ni5odG1s0gFeaHR0cHM6Ly9jYS5uZXdzLnlhaG9vLmNvbS9hbXBodG1sL3NwYWNleHMtaW5zcGlyYXRpb240LWxhdW5jaC1oaXN0b3JpYy1jaXZpbGlhbi0yMjMxNTUxNzYuaHRtbA?oc=5
2021-09-14 22:31:55Z
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