29-year-old Hayley Arceneaux of Baton Rouge has been tapped to make history as the first cancer survivor, youngest American, and first civilian woman to ever get launched into space.
Arceneaux will take flight on Inspiration4, the first all-civilian mission. Arceneaux, a spokesperson for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, called it an honor.
“Until now astronauts have really had to be physically perfect and now this mission is allowing everyday people to go to space and journey among the stars,” said Arceneaux.
Arceneaux was diagnosed with osteosarcoma when she was just ten years old but was saved by treatment at St. Jude. Most of her femur had to be replaced with a prosthetic device.
Arceneaux with her background as a physician’s assistant will be the flight’s medical officer as one part of the crew’s civilian-run research project. Arceneaux said she is most excited about the opportunity to talk to St. Jude kids while in orbit.
Inspiration4 is a SpaceX flight, a civilian-run space agency. The flight was purchased by tech billionaire Jared Isaacman to help raise awareness for causes like St. Jude. Isaacman will also pilot the craft.
Arceneaux will begin training for the mission once the final crew members are selected, but she said she’s already getting into the space-faring mood.
“I’ve gone through three days of medical evaluations and got fitted for my spacesuit so that was really exciting,” said Arceneaux.
The mission will launch at a future date from the Kennedy Space Center, spend about three days in space, and return via a water landing off the coast of Florida.
Comments