SpaceX Inspiration4 all-civilian orbital mission ready to fly tonight!

Exciting!

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. Sept. 15 (UPI) — The SpaceX mission Inspiration4 — the first all-private orbital spaceflight — is planned for launch from Florida on Wednesday night, carrying four civilians led by philanthropist and pilot Jared Isaacman.

Liftoff of the Crew Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled for a five-hour window starting at 8:02 p.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center.

While other private missions have gone into space briefly, Inspiration4 will be the first to orbit the Earth — flying at more that 265 miles high.

“Everyone is fully prepared … and confident they have the skills necessary to successfully fly and return,” Scott “Kidd” Poteet, the mission director, told UPI in an interview Tuesday.