Elon Musk&rsquos SpaceX is creating history and how.
The aerospace giant has decided to launch the first-ever all-civilians mission to space sometime in the fourth quarter of the year.
Named Inspiration 4, the SpaceX mission will send four people on a multi-day trip into low-earth orbit. The vehicle chosen for the historic expedition is the Falcon 9 Dragon Spacecraft, which is also the world&rsquos first orbital-class reusable rocket.
A pioneer in the space tourism industry, the mission will be led by Jared Isaacman, the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments (a payment processing company in Pennsylvania). The project will be organised as part of a charitable campaign for the St. Jude Children&rsquos Research Hospital which is recognised for its intensive research on leukemia and cancer in children.
The highlight of the SpaceX mission is its unique requirement criteria. It wants the four chosen tourists to personify traits like leadership, hope, prosperity, and generosity.
Two of the seats on the flight will be offered as prizes. People who donate at least $10 to St. Jude this month will be entered in a sweepstakes for one of the seats. Entrepreneurs who create an online store through Shift4Shop &mdash a platform offered by Isaacman's payment company &mdash and post about it on social media will compete for the other. It will require interested contestants to send across a video explaining why they should be sent to space.
Special training will be organised for four citizens by SpaceX which will include sessions on emergency preparedness, mission simulations, and orbital mechanics.