A journey to space. A cause for humanity.
St. Jude was the charitable beneficiary of Inspiration4, the first all-civilian mission to orbit the Earth.
The launch of Inspiration4
Over a year ago, on September 15, 2021, Inspiration4 launched into space carrying four civilian crew members on a three-day orbital mission.
Inspiration4 was named for its four-person crew and its mission to inspire support for the lifesaving work of St. Jude. Each crew member represented one of the spaceflight’s pillars: Leadership, Hope, Prosperity and Generosity.
Read what the Inspiration4 crew have been up to one year after the launch.
Meet the Inspiration4 crew
Jared Isaacman
Commander and benefactor
Leadership seat
Hayley Arceneaux
St. Jude cancer survivor
Hope seat
Dr. Sian Proctor
Shift4Shop owner
Prosperity seat
Christopher Sembroski
St. Jude donor
Generosity seat
Inspiration4 had a $200 million fundraising goal for St. Jude, which was exceeded thanks to the generosity of Jared Isaacman, who commanded the spaceflight. And his impact didn't stop there. Learn how he's continuing to make history with the Polaris program.
Inspiration4 Advanced Research Center on the St. Jude campus
Inspiration4 raised more than $250 million for the kids of St. Jude.
This historic spaceflight helped fund the Inspiration4 Advanced Research Center on the St. Jude campus in Memphis, Tenn. The 625,000 square-foot facility can accommodate up to 1,000 employees and will be a significant resource in how we treat and cure cancer. Learn more.
As a child, her parents encouraged her dream of becoming an astronaut. They never told her it might be difficult for a young Black girl.
Show your support for this remarkable milestone with a flight jacket, coffee mug, space puppy and more. Proceeds benefit St. Jude.
Space- and Inspiration4-themed T-shirts, tote bags, pillows, phone cases and more — all to benefit St. Jude kids.
St. Jude facility dogs Puggle and Huckleberry inspired the official zero-gravity indicator the crew had on board. Get yours at the St. Jude Gift Shop.
Support St. Jude with a donation of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin or other cryptocurrencies.
Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space is a documentary series that covered the events in near real-time, airing in five parts leading up to and after the mission.
Shop our space collection inspired by the artwork of St. Jude patient Colton, or browse through our whole selection. Proceeds benefit St. Jude.
From cancer patient to astronaut
Mission highlights
Sept. 15, 2021
Inspiration4 lanches from Florida Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A.
Sept. 16, 2021
The crew of Inspiration4 talks to a very special group back home on Earth — St. Jude patients.
Sept. 18, 2021
Inspiration4 splashes down in the Atlantic Ocean.
St. Jude physician assistant and Inspiration4 crew member Hayley Arceneaux holding a photo of herself as a St. Jude patient.
About St. Jude
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. And families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.
St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Learn more.