SpaceX performed the worlds first all-private, all-civilian spaceflight in September. The Inspiration4 mission lifted off from Launch Complex-39A at NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Falcon 9 propelled the Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft carrying Shift4 Payments founder Jared Isaacman, who paid for the space trip, alongside St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Medical Officer Hayley Arceneaux, a childhood cancer survivor; Mission specialist Data engineer Chris Sembroski, who won his seat in a raffle; and Geoscience Professor Dr. Sian Proctor, who served as mission pilot.

Dr. Proctor achieved her life-long dream to become an astronaut at 51-years-old. She tried out to become a NASA astronaut in 2009. Besides getting a Ph.D, she got a pilot’s license, and additional training necessary to be an astronaut candidate. When she tried out she made it to the final round of NASA’S astronaut selection process but she was not selected. With SpaceX and the Inspiration4 project, she earned a seat aboard the Inspiration4 mission by participating in a Shift4 Shop entrepreneur video contest. She impressed the judges with her artistic business idea. In her contest video entry, she read a poem called “Space2Inspire” which promotes what she creatively calls ‘JEDI space’—a Just, Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive vision of space exploration for humanity. She got to read the poem in outer space! [Poem is transcribed below.]

Dr. Proctor made history as the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft. During the historic three-day voyage, Proctor and her crewmates orbited Earth at an unprecedented altitude of 585-kilometers above our planet – that is much higher than the International Space Station (ISS) and the Hubble Space Telescope. It is the furthest any crew has traveled to since the final time Hubble was serviced over a decade ago.

The Inspiration4 crew used their space adventure to inspire the public to donate to St. Jude. They helped raise over $200 million for the children’s hospital. While orbiting our planet they enjoyed magnificent views our of Dragon’s cupola, they performed science research, and even played some music while floating in microgravity.

“[…] Because of the design of the cupola we would be able to see the entire sphere of our planet. And it was breathtaking. It's so hard to describe. You just gasped out loud,” she told reporters, “I just wanted to reach my hand up and swirl our planet. I kept thinking how humans are designing this portrait in motion. We have a big impact on how it's going to look, and what we do matters. Earth is absolutely stunningly beautiful. It’s so bright! And then the moon! The moon was hanging in suspension.”

On Sunday, Dr. Proctor shared an amazing video reading her Space2Inspire poem while orbiting Earth. “In honor of Black Poetry Day, this is me in SpaceX cupola w[ith]/my winning Inspiration4 prosperity seat poem,” she wrote via Twitter, “So grateful for the opportunity to go to space as an artist & poet. Thank you […] all those who have inspired me!” Proctor captioned the video, linked below. 

In honor of #BlackPoetryDay, this is me in @SpaceX cupola w/my winning @inspiration4x prosperity seat poem. So grateful for the opportunity to go to space as an artist & poet. Thank you @TheAmandaGorman, @DrMayaAngelou, @PrinceEa) & all those who have inspired me!❤️ #BlackPoetDay pic.twitter.com/gxjwnUtIID

— Dr. Sian “Leo” Proctor (@DrSianProctor) October 17, 2021

Poem: 'Space2Inspire'  By: Dr. Sian Proctor 

You've got space

I’ve got space

We all have Space2inspire

That’s why we dream of going higher and higher

But what is space if you can’t breathe

Let’s stop sucking out the air of our humanity

We have a moment to sieze the light

Earth from space – both day and night

We have J for justice to ignite the bold

We have E for equity to cut past the old

We have D for diversity to end the fight

We have I for inclusion to try and make it right

A J.E.D.I. space to rally behind

A universal force so big it binds

Inspiration to change the world

A new beginning for us to hold

It’s not about you

It’s not about me

It’s about Space2inspire

For ALL of humanity

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

Sending us out on the explorer’s path

But don’t forget the Arts – the heartbeat of time

Consider sending a poet who know how to rhyme

So let us drop the mic and close the capsule door

But please make sure Doctor Proctor is on board

My Space2inspire is what we need

Inspiration4 - for all of humanity!

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Featured Image Source: Inspiration4