The world’s first fully civilian space mission will usher in a new era of commercial space exploration



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ANGELS–(BUSINESS WIRE– Plans for the world’s first fully civilian space mission were announced today from SpaceX’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California. The mission is targeted for the fourth quarter of this year and will be commanded by Jared Isaacman, founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments (NYSE: FOUR), 37, and an accomplished pilot. Named Inspiration4 in recognition of the four-person crew’s mission to inspire support for St. Jude® Children’s Research Hospital and send a humanitarian message of possibility, travel represents a new era for flights manned space and exploration. Isaacman donates the three mission seats alongside him to the crew members who will be selected to represent the pillars of the mission of leadership, hope, generosity and prosperity.

According to Isaacman, “Inspiration4 is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream and a step towards a future in which anyone can venture and explore the stars. I appreciate the enormous responsibility that comes with this mission and want to use this historic moment to inspire humanity while helping to fight childhood cancer here on Earth.

Isaacman and the Inspiration4 crew will undergo commercial astronaut training by SpaceX on the Falcon 9 launcher and the Dragon spacecraft, including a special emphasis on orbital mechanics, operating in microgravity, weightlessness and other forms of stress tests. They will receive training in emergency preparedness, entry and exit exercises for spacesuits and spacecraft, as well as partial and full mission simulations. The mission will be launched from NASA’s historic Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A in Florida and will be carefully monitored at every step by SpaceX Mission Control as the spacecraft orbits the planet every 90 minutes along it. ‘a personalized flight path. At the end of the multi-day trip, Dragon will return to Earth’s atmosphere for a freshwater landing off the coast of Florida.

Isaacman granted St. Jude two seats for the Inspiration4 mission. The first seat is reserved for an Ambassador of Saint Jude with direct connections to the mission which exemplifies the Pillar of Hope as well as the courageous vision upon which Saint Jude was founded – compassion, unity, equality and inclusion. The second seat will represent the pillar of the mission of generosity. During the month of February, members of the public can enter for a chance to join the flight to space and support the St Jude Rescue Mission.

Isaacman has pledged to donate $ 100 million to St. Jude and invites everyone to join him in an attempt to raise over $ 200 million or more to support St. Jude’s multi-billion dollar expansion. Jude aimed at accelerating research progress and saving more children around the world. It will also provide additional support to the St. Jude fundraising effort in the form of other prizes, including flights in a military aircraft and flying equipment. An accomplished pilot qualified to fly commercial and military aircraft, Isaacman holds several world records, including a Speed-Around-The-World flight to raise funds and raise awareness of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. He has participated in over 100 air shows as part of the Black Diamond Jet team, dedicating each show to charitable causes. In 2011, Isaacman co-founded what would become the world’s largest private air force, Draken International, to train pilots for the US military.

“That same year, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital broke borders when it opened its doors, the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., president and chief executive officer. the leadership of the ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization of St.. “From the start, St. Jude has been at the forefront of innovation and inclusion, leading in cancer research, care and treatment for some of the world’s sickest children, regardless of race. , ethnicity, beliefs or a family’s ability to pay. This partnership brings together two missions to create an incredible moment in time that will have an impact for years to come on the global childhood cancer cure effort.

Isaacman will work with Shift4 Payments to deliver the fourth and final Crew Seat representing the Pillar of the Prosperity Mission to a deserving entrepreneur who uses the new Shift4Shop e-commerce platform, which enables entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses successful online e-commerce companies. Current and new Shift4Shop customers will have a unique opportunity to enter an online competition showcasing themselves and their business. The competition will run from February 1 to 28, 2021 and the winner will be selected by an independent jury.

Shift4 Payments provides marketing support for the Mission and will take advantage of one of the biggest popular cultural events of the year, Super Bowl LV this Sunday, to dramatically present the Mission and its purpose to the public. A 30-second spot will air during the first quarter of the Big Game and invite all viewers to support and be a part of this historic journey through the St. Jude and Shift4Shop programs.

Isaacman concluded, “Today’s announcement is the first step on a very exciting journey. Ahead of the launch, we’ll share new ways to support and monitor our mission preparation and execution with a focus on inspiring and helping others.

To find out more about Inspiration4, how to support and possibly join this historic journey into space and the specific terms of the promotions, visit www.Inspiration4.com and follow the mission on social media on Twitter (@inspiration4x), Facebook (@ inspiration4mission), Instagram (@ inspiration4) and YouTube (@ Inspiration4) for the latest news on training and mission readiness. Those wishing to learn how to participate for a chance to win one of the two seats offered should visit inspiration4.com and review the applicable official promotion rules.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way in the world to understand, treat and conquer childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its objective is clear: to find cures. Saving children.® It is the only Comprehensive Cancer Center designated by the National Cancer Institute and dedicated only to children. Treatments invented in St. Jude have helped increase the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to over 80% since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude will not stop until no child dies of cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries he makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means that doctors and scientists around the world can use this knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for care, travel, accommodation, or food – all a family should care about is helping their child to survive. Join the St. Jude Mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter, Instagram and subscribe to his YouTube channel.

About Shift4 Payments

Shift4 Payments (NYSE: FOUR) is a leading provider of integrated payment processing solutions and technology, offering a comprehensive omnichannel ecosystem that extends beyond payments to include a wide range of services that facilitate commerce. The company’s technologies help power over 350 software vendors across many industries including hospitality, retail, foodservice, e-commerce, accommodation, gaming and many more. The newly launched Shift4Shop platform offers a turnkey e-commerce experience including a robust website builder, product and order management, customer marketing tools and more. With more than 7,000 business partners, the company securely processed over $ 200 billion in payment volume for over 200,000 businesses in 2019. For more information, visit shift4.com.



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