“A small step for a man, a giant leap for humanity.” These were the famous words Neil Armstrong said after he became the first person to land on the moon. It is one of astronomy’s most significant accomplishments. Since then, scientists have achieved many remarkable feats.
Astronomy has always been a subject that fascinates a lot of people. Thinking about the mysteries of the universe, the stars, and outer space is exciting. Thus, when news of missions to exit the Earth’s atmosphere gets caught in the wind, it gains much attention.
For instance, people are excitedly talking about SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission. Entertainment company Netflix understands the hype and what the mission entails for the future. It took into Twitter to announce that it will co-produce a documentary about the space mission. Time Studios will help Netflix in the production of the documentary. Jason Heir, who created the Michael Jordan series “The Last Dance,” is the chosen director.
The video streaming giant Tweeted the announcement on August 3. A day after, Inspiration4’s Official account wrote: “We can’t wait for you to watch ‘Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission To Space’ on @netflix, covering our crew’s exciting, out-of-this-world journey.”
SpaceX’s Inspiration4
Inspiration4 prides itself on being the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit. The mission will fly four civilians to outer space. It will be led by the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Shift4 Payment, Jared Isaacman, who is also an accomplished pilot. Hayley Arceneaux, Chris Sembrosk, and Dr. Sian Proctor will be accompanying him. The four will represent the mission pillars of leadership, hope, generosity, and prosperity.
“This milestone represents a new era for human spaceflight and exploration,” boasts its website. At the same time, it will raise awareness and funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Meet The Crew
Jared Isaacman
Isaacman describes himself as a space geek. He has a passion for aviation and spaceflight – a claim solidified by his activities over the past 20 years. The Shift4 Payments founder has done a high-speed circumnavigation of the world and flown in numerous air shows. Side note: he did all of those for charity. Furthermore, he owns Draken International, a defense aerospace company that trains jet pilots for the U.S. military.
Isaacman has a lifelong dream of orbiting the Earth. Now, that dream is near to coming true, with him at the helm of the SpaceX Inspiration4 space mission. He’s the one representing the pillar of leadership.
Haley Arceneaux
Representing hope is cancer survivor Haley Arceneaux. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer when she was ten. Her family turned to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for her treatment. She went under chemotherapy and limb-saving surgery, which were all successful. Haley is now standing strong and thriving – a woman proud of defeating cancer.
Haley is now a Physician Assistant in the very hospital where she received treatment and care.
Isaacman invited Haley to be a part of the crew. “Yes, yes! Put my name down,” she said when she was asked if she wants to go to space. This will make the 29-year old one of the youngest people to go to outer space.
Chris Sembroski
The final two seats were awarded to winners of sweepstakes and a competition. Sembroski is among those who donated to St. Jude’s. However, it was not his entry that got picked – it was his friend’s. His friend stuck true to the pillar of the mission and passed the ticket to the “Generosity” seat to Sembroski.
Sembroski shared Isaacman’s passion and interest in the aerospace industry. In the past, he volunteered with ProSpace and then served the U.S. Air Force later on. He is also a former U.S. Space Camp counselor.
Sembroski said that he has never thought he’ll have the opportunity to reach the stars. More surprisingly, he got it from “something as simple as supporting St. Jude’s.”
“I look forward to using this platform to encourage everyone to be generous to others in whatever ways they are able,” says Sembroski.
Dr. Sian Proctor
Filling the last seat is Dr. Sian Proctor – a geoscientist, explorer, science communication specialist, and analog astronaut. Her father has worked at the NASA tracking station during the Apollo missions. That’s how she developed an interest in what’s outside of our planet.
Dr. Proctor wants to create a J.E.D.I. Space. The acronym stands for Just Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive space for all of humanity. That secured her a spot in the Explorer’s Club 50: Fifty People Changing the World. But that’s not the only thing she’s won. Dr. Proctor got the last Inspiration4 ticket from joining a competition that promoted Isaacman’s Shift4 Payments. She represents the pillar of prosperity.
The Documentary Followers Want
Netflix and Time Studios’ documentary will “take viewers behind the scenes with the four crew members.” They will show everything – from their unconventional selection to their months-long commercial astronaut training to the emotional moments before lift-off. Netflix will release it in two parts, on September 6 and 13. Then, if things go as scheduled, the rocket launch will be on September 15. The final episode will air days after that. “It will feature unprecedented access inside the spacecraft, capturing the launch and the crew,” reports Deadline.
The Verge also reports that separate from this, Netflix plans to release a “hybrid live-action animation special for kids and families.” This kid-friendly watching option will air on September 14 – a day before the launch. It will also be about the mission, though for more educational purposes. It will answer common questions like “how do people eat or sleep in space?” or “how do rockets work?” Across the platform, real Twitter followers rejoice in the concept.
Now, two other billionaire passenger space flights launched and safely landed in July. Needless to say, they were the center of online discussions on social platforms like Twitter. Most probably, it saw how it could financially benefit from that hype. Thus, they made this decision to co-produce the Inspiration4 documentary. And for sure, Netflix will get what it wants.