Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Netflix documentary to follow SpaceX’s all-civilian mission ‘in near real-time’

Final episode will air ‘just days after the mission is completed’

Clémence Michallon
New York City
Tuesday 03 August 2021 20:28 BST
Comments
British billionaire Richard Branson says space is 'experience of a lifetime' aboard Virgin Galactic vessel

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A new Netflix documentary series will follow an all-civilian mission to space “in near real-time”.

Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission To Space, announced by Netflix on Tuesday, will follow SpaceX’s Dragon mission, also known as Inspiration4.

SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, revealed the names of all four passengers who will take part in the journey in April this year. Dr Sian Proctor, Chris Sembroski, Jared Isaacman, and Hayley Arceneaux are all featured in promotional pictures newly unveiled by Netflix.

The documentary is expected to air in September and will consist of five episodes. It will “take viewers behind the scenes with the four crew members – from their unconventional selection and intensive months-long commercial astronaut training, through the intimate and emotional moments leading up to lift-off”, Netflix has announced.

“The final episode, which premieres just days after the mission is completed, will feature unprecedented access inside the spacecraft capturing the launch and the crew's journey to space, as well as their return home to Earth,” the statement added.

Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux, Dr Sian Proctor, and Chris Sembroski in ‘Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space'
Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux, Dr Sian Proctor, and Chris Sembroski in ‘Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space' (JOHN KRAUS/COURTESY OF NETFLIX)

Netflix have billed the mission as “the most ambitious step to date in the rapidly-developing age of civilian space exploration, making history as the first all-civilian mission to orbit”.

The news comes less than a month after billionaires Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos completed their respective trips to space.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in