Four American space tourists began this Wednesday, September 16, an incredible journey in zero gravity in a SpaceX vessel, where they must spend three days in orbit around the Earth without any professional astronaut on board.
Called Inspiration4, the mission is supposed to embody a step towards the democratization of space, by proving that the cosmos is not reserved only for astronaut crews handpicked and trained over the years.
The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off on time, 8:02 p.m. local from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with a roar and fireball lighting up the night.
A few minutes later, the first and then the second stage of the rocket separated, leaving the Dragon capsule and its passengers alone in the cosmos.
“Few have been there before and many will follow. The door is opening now, it’s pretty amazing, ”billionaire Jared Isaacman, mission commander, said from inside the capsule after reaching space.
A first step for SpaceX
At the end of their journey, they will begin a dizzying descent to land off Florida. For SpaceX, this is nothing less than a first step towards a multiplanetary humanity, Elon Musk’s ultimate vision.
To help understand the effect of the spatial environment on novices, their biological data (heart rate, sleep …) as well as their cognitive capacities will be analyzed. They will also undergo tests comparing their performance before and after the trip.
Their training only lasted about six months. The flight is expected to remain fully automated, but the crew has been trained by SpaceX to be able to take control in an emergency. To prepare, they also made a trek in the snow up to more than 3,000 meters of altitude, and supported the force G of a centrifuge.