137: Insights and Impressions from the Inspiration4 Launch

On Sept 15, 2021, our friend and colleague Dr. Sian Proctor achieved her life-long dream of launching into space and becoming an astronaut on the Crew Dragon as part of the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission! My fellow analog astronauts Dr. Brandy Nunez and Makiah Eustice share our impressions and insights of this historic flight in an intimate conversation together- 24 hours after witnessing the launch live from the Kennedy Space Center at historic Launch complex 39-A.

Together, we discuss what this means for a new generation of space explorers, what this flight means for women, and what Dr. Sian Proctor brings to every interaction she has. Buckle in, because THIS episode allows us to showcase, from our own perspectives, the journey our friend has been on, and why we're oh-so-proud and can't contain our excitement for Sian's successful mission, and her many future endeavors!!!

About Dr. Sian Proctor: Sian is an American geology professor, science communicator, and commercial astronaut. She was launched into Earth orbit, on September 15, 2021, as the pilot of the Crew Dragon space capsule. This mission is the Inspiration4 private orbital spaceflight. She served as the pilot on the Inspiration4 mission, the first Black woman to serve as the pilot of a spacecraft.

Share your Support for Dr. Proctor and her Artwork Here: https://myspace2inspire.com/

About Inspiration4

Inspiration4 is the world's first all-civilian mission to orbit. The mission will be commanded by Jared Isaacman, the 38-year-old founder and Chief Executive Officer of Shift4 Payments and an accomplished pilot and adventurer. Inspiration4 will leave Earth from Kennedy Space Center's historic Launch Complex 39A, the embarkation point for Apollo and Space Shuttle missions, and travel across a low earth orbit on a multi-day journey that will continually eclipse more than 90% of the earth's population. Named in recognition of the four-person crew that will raise awareness and funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, this milestone represents a new era for human spaceflight and exploration. https://inspiration4.com/

About Dr. Brandy Nunez: Dr. Brandy Nunez is a practicing small animal veterinarian, a modular synth musician and an aspiring astronaut. She is also Director of outreach for the Sensoria Program (www.Sensoria.space), dedicated to making space accessible to all. She applied to NASA in 2020 for the Astronaut candidate program and has completed two analog simulation missions at the HI-SEAS habitat on Mauna Loa. She hopes to continue her research on future missions and eventually in low earth orbit. Her love and appreciation of the cosmos infiltrates her work in both the scientific and creative realms.

About Makiah Eustice: Makiah is an aerospace engineer, songwriter, and Officer in the US Air Force. She's been on 3 analog missions, the latest with Sian as part of the first all-women Sensoria crew at HI-SEAS. You can find her on twitter and instagram at @Astro_Eustice

About Beth Mund: Beth Mund is an Analog Astronaut, Podcast Host, and Space Communications Evangelist.

Beth has 20+ years of speech writing and executive coaching for Fortune 50 companies including Motorola, Allstate and United Airlines.

Beth began her NASA career as a Public Affairs Officer for the Johnson Space Center, and later served as a Communications Officer for the International Space Station program. She received her Master's Degree in Journalism at Marquette University, and served an adjunct professor at Elgin Community College. She is the CEO of Stellar Communications, providing speech writing, narrative discovery & design, voice overs, communication workshops & training, and keynote speaking.

Beth served as the host and emcee of the 2020 Space Com Expo global space commerce event. She currently serves on the Space Camp Alumni Board, and is a founding member of the Loras College Women's Leadership Board, and the Space Drinks Association Board. Beth's analog adventures include a MARS simulation mission at the HI-SEAS research facility on the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii, and most recently a LUNAR simulation and space isolation study at the LunAres Space Research Facility in Pila, Poland. Her latest projects, analog missions and podcast episodes can be found at www.BethMund.com

How to continue the mission and donate to St. Jude: https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/other-ways/inspiration4.html