Astronauts conducting the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission are scheduled to make their return to Earth today.
SpaceX achieved Wednesday a significant milestone in the history of spaceflight, sending the crew of citizen astronauts into orbit. After nearly three days in space, the crew is scheduled for a parachute landing in the Atlantic off Florida.
SpaceX said Friday that the Crew Dragon spacecraft completed two rocket burns to lower its altitude.
The splash landing is expected around 7 p.m. ET.
The flight marked the highest altitude a private citizen has traveled. In fact, the mission increased the number of private citizens reaching Earth’s orbit from 8 to 12.
The mission was spearheaded by billionaire software entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who purchased the seats on Crew Dragon to raise awareness and funding for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The fee for the flight was not disclosed.
The citizen astronauts selected for Inspiration4 are Haley Arceneaux, who was treated at St. Jude and now works at the hospital; Isaacman; geologist Sian Proctor; and Chris Sembroski, an Air Force veteran who served in Iraq.
Watch SpaceX’s coverage of their return below:
