Skip to main content

How to watch SpaceX launch its first all-civilian mission

Inspiration4 | Launch

SpaceX is a short time away from launching its first all-civilian crew for a three-day ride in low Earth orbit.

Recommended Videos

The mission is set to lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, September 15.

Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman, the commander of the Inspiration4 mission, secured the flight in a private deal with SpaceX. Isaacman said a big part of Inspiration4 is to raise the profile of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and reach a $200 million funding goal for the facility.

The mission is notable on many levels. Besides becoming the first flight to head to orbit without a professional astronaut on board, it will also be the first space mission to include a bone cancer survivor, in this case, 29-year-old American Hayley Arceneaux. In addition, it’ll be the first SpaceX flight to include a Dragon spacecraft that doesn’t visit the International Space Station, and will also mark the first use of a Crew Dragon spacecraft with an all-glass observatory dome at its tip.

Besides enjoying the amazing views out of the dome, the crew will also carry out various health-related experiments in microgravity conditions during what promises to be an extraordinary voyage.

Speaking recently about the upcoming mission, Isaacman said the Inspiration4 crew is eager to use the experience “to help make a better future for those who will launch in the years and decades to come.”

He added: “In all of human history, fewer than 600 humans have reached space. We are proud that our flight will help influence all those who will travel after us and look forward to seeing how this mission will help shape the beginning of a new era for space exploration.”

Indeed, a successful flight will open the door to similar flights operated by SpaceX as part of a high-end space tourism service, with trips requiring months of intensive pre-launch training as well as pots of money.

How to watch

SpaceX has announced a five-hour launch window starting at 8:02 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 15. The precise launch time will be largely determined by weather conditions in and around Kennedy Space Center.

You can watch the launch and early stages of the Inspiration4 mission via the video player embedded at the top of this page. SpaceX will also stream the same footage on its YouTube channel.

A third option is Netflix, which is showing highlights of the mission in a five-part docuseries throughout this month.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Watch SpaceX blast a Starship engine ahead of 10th flight
SpaceX tests one of its Starship rocket engines ahead of the 10th flight test.

SpaceX has just shared a short video showing a test firing of one of its six Starship engines in preparation for the rocket’s 10th flight test.

“Single-engine static fire demonstrating an in-space burn complete as Starship prepares for our tenth flight test,” the Elon Musk-led company said in a comment accompanying the video, which was posted on X on Tuesday.

Read more
SpaceX’s Starlink rival is about to launch more internet satellites — here’s how to watch
Amazon's KA-01 mission for Project Kuiper gets underway from the Space Coast.

Amazon is preparing to launch its second batch of Project Kuiper internet satellites to orbit as it seeks to build out a constellation to take on SpaceX’s Starlink service.

The KA-02 mission had been delayed due to inclement weather, but Amazon and rocket provider United Launch Alliance (ULA) appear confident that it can send the satellites skyward on Monday, June 23.

Read more
SpaceX Starlink rivalry grows as next Kuiper deployment nears
A ULA rocket launching Amazon's first Project Kuiper satellites in April 2025.

Amazon is about to send another batch of Project Kuiper internet satellites to orbit as it seeks to take on SpaceX’s Starlink service to provide broadband internet to customers around the world.

The tech giant has a long way to go before it has any hope of effectively challenging Starlink, but with its second launch set for next week, progress is being made toward its goal.

Read more