Sian Proctor, the pilot of the world’s very first all-civilian space mission, just had the “best ride” of her life as she touched down following a 3-day trip to Earth’s orbit on board a SpaceX capsule.
The SpaceX capsule on Sunday effectively concluded the historic orbital mission with no experienced astronauts on board. Proctor, 51, was the mission pilot alongside mission commander Jared Isaacman, a billionaire who financed the trip for the crew.
“Best ride of my life! Thank you @SpaceX and @elonmusk! @inspiration4x,” she tweeted just after her touchdown, tagging SpaceX founder Elon Musk.
Best ride of my life! Thank you @SpaceX and @elonmusk! @inspiration4xhttps://t.co/kQFa9mo8GK
— Dr. Sian “Leo” Proctor (@DrSianProctor) September 19, 2021
“Nothing but #gratitude!! Thank you to everyone who helped make our mission a success and supported us through this historic journey,” she stated retweeting an Inspiration4 video displaying the 4 crewmembers inside the capsule.
Nothing but #gratitude!! Thank you to everybody who helped make our mission a results and supported us by way of this historic journey. ????????????????????????????@inspiration4x@SpaceX#Space2inspirehttps://t.co/W0PgPn6fpu
— Dr. Sian “Leo” Proctor (@DrSianProctor) September 19, 2021
In a different tweet carrying a photo of her leaving the capsule, she stated, “We did it!!”
On her site, Proctor says she was chosen the pilot of the space mission in 2021.
“Before becoming an astronaut, I was an analog astronaut. Analog astronauts engage in a wide range of research such as human physiology, psychology, crew cohesion, exercise, and nutritional studies along with testing cutting-edge science, technology, & engineering applications,” she says.
The Inspiration4 mission of sending very first all-civilian crew to orbit also incorporated Isaacman who had funded the trip aiming to make space a bit more accessible. The two other crew members have been Hayley Arceneaux, a 29-year-old nurse, and Chris Sembroski, 42, a US Air Force veteran.
The SpaceX capsule splashed into the Atlantic Ocean at 2306 GMT, according to a video feed by the corporation, just after it was slowed down by 4 huge parachutes, reported news agency AFP. The capsule remained in the orbit for 3 days, circling the globe more than 15 occasions each and every day, just after its launch at 0002 GMT on Thursday.
“That was a heck of a ride for us, and we’re just getting started,” stated Isaacman shortly just after landing.