The best visuals from SpaceX's historic all-civilian mission to space
Jay Cannon, USA TODAY
·2 min read
SpaceX's all-civilian mission to space didn't just make history, it produced some visually stunning photos and videos as well.
An astronaut-less Falcon 9 rocket blasted off into the night sky on Wednesday, dazzling the crowds of spectators that came to watch the launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The crew's three-day journey took them in orbit around Earth at a higher elevation than the International Space Station and ended with a splash down into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida Saturday.
The Inspiration4 mission crew, made up of civilians Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux, Chris Sembroski and Sian Proctor, was all smiles upon returning to Earth.
The mission, paid for by Isaacman was billed as a massive fundraising effort for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
One of the jaw-dropping sights to come out of the mission: a sunset shot of Earth taken from the Crew Dragon capsule's cupola.
The launch of a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket on the Inspiration4 mission launched from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Kennedy Space Center Wednesday Sept. 15, 2021. Aboard the rocket is the Inspiration4 crew, the first all-civilian crew to fly in space.
Media crew set up their equipment as the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon is seen in the background sitting on launch Pad 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center, as it is prepared for the first completely private mission to fly into orbit in Cape Canaveral, Florida on September 15, 2021.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket sits on Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021.
The crew of Inspiration4 (from left) Sian Proctor, Chris Sembroski, Jared Isaacman and Hayley Arceneaux wave as they head to the launch pad Wednesday afternoon.
The Inspiration4 mission was promoted as a massive fundraising effort for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The vision for Inspiration4 began just 10 months ago, Jared Isaacman said. The rocket blasted into orbit Wednesday night.
A long exposure shows the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with Crew Dragon capsule as it flies into orbit.
The contrail of the Falcon 9 rocket was illuminated by the sun.
Spectators along the Indian River Lagoon in Titusville, Florida, wait for the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Spectators at Space View Park along the Indian River Lagoon in Titusville, Florida watch the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch.
A man captures the launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.
A long exposure shows Falcon9's path through the sky.
Inspiration4 crew member Hayley Arceneaux looking out of Crew Dragon viewing cupola while orbiting the Earth.
Inspiration4 Jared Isaacman inside the SpaceX Crew Dragon viewing cupola at the spacecraft orbits the Earth.
Inspiration4 crew member Chris Sembroksi looking through a telescope aboard as he orbits the Earth in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
In this image taken from SpaceX video, passengers aboard a SpaceX capsule react as the capsule parachutes into the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. The all-amateur crew was the first to circle the world without a professional astronaut.
In this image taken from SpaceX video a SpaceX capsule carrying four people parachutes into the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. The all-amateur crew was the first to circle the world without a professional astronaut.
In this image taken provided by SpaceX, a capsule carrying four people parachutes into the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. The all-amateur crew was the first to circle the world without a professional astronaut.
Follow Jay Cannon of USA TODAY on Twitter: @JayTCannon
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