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Four amateur astronauts are due to spend about three days in orbit in a world first, after they blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday evening.

The Inspiration4 mission, backed by SpaceX, was organised by entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who is also one of the passengers.

They are the first all-civilian crew ever to circle the Earth from space.

During their trip, those on board will carry out a series of science experiments before returning home.

So who are the four crew members, how did they get there and what will happen in the next 72 hours or so.

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A giant leap in commercial space travel

Who are the amateur astronauts?

The four people aboard the Dragon capsule are Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arceneaux, Chris Sembroski, and Dr Sian Proctor.

Mr Isaacman is the man behind the mission, and paid an undisclosed sum to get the project off the ground.

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The 38-year-old made his money with a payment processing company – like SpaceX head Elon Musk – and now also operates a private air force.

Jared Isaacman. Pic: Inspiration4 / John Kraus
Image:
Jared Isaacman. Pic: Inspiration4/John Kraus

An experienced pilot, he wants the journey to raise awareness for St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

The other three members of the crew were selected according to Mr Isaacman’s conditions.

Hayley Arceneaux, 29, is an employee of St Jude’s, and had cancer during her childhood.

Taking someone from the hospital was a condition from Mr Isaacman.

Ms Arceneaux, a physician’s assistant, is the first person to travel to space with a prosthesis – part of her right femur was replaced by a metal rod during a bone cancer battle at the age of 10.

Dr Proctor, 51, is an entrepreneur and trained pilot herself.

She won her seat through a competition based on a set of business-related tasks.

(L-R) Chris Sembroski, Dr Sian Proctor, Jared Isaacman, Hayley Arcenaux. Pic: Inspiration4 / John Kraus
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The four space tourists have defined roles. Pic: Inspiration4/John Kraus

The scientist previously applied for NASA‘s astronaut programme but was unsuccessful – but is now in space.

Last up is Chris Sembroski, 42, a US Air Force veteran who now works for Lockheed Martin.

He was selected from a lottery of people who donated to St Jude’s – a competition which received around 72,000 entries.

What are their roles?

The four space tourists have defined roles, according to their backgrounds.

They have been branded leadership, hope, prosperity and generosity.

Mr Isaacman is leadership, and he will be the mission commander in charge of the operation.

Hope is Ms Arceneaux, who will act as medical officer and will help with experiments being carried out – many of which are medically based.

Dr Sian Proctor. Pic: Inspiration4 / John Kraus
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Dr Proctor unsuccesfully applied to be a NASA astronaut. Pic: Inspiration4/John Kraus

Dr Proctor is prosperity and the mission pilot. She will support Mr Isaacman.

Generosity is represented by Mr Sembroski, who is the mission specialist and will help “manage payload, science experiments, communications to mission control and more”.

What will they do?

Most of the experiments being carried out by the crew are “to increase humanity’s knowledge on the impact of spaceflight on the human body”.

SpaceX, the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and the Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City will analyse the data collected.

What experiments will they do

  • Collecting “research-grade ECG activity, movement, sleep, heart rate and rhythm, blood oxygen saturation, cabin noise and light intensity”
  • Test behavioural and cognitive function using computer software
  • Ultrasound scans for organs to see if non-experts can get good quality image and see how spaceflight affects the body
  • Draw and test blood to see how the immune system functions in space
  • Testing motor function before and after the flight

How is the ship controlled?

The crew are aboard a Dragon capsule, a reusable pod developed by SpaceX.

It can seat up to seven people, and has been to the International Space Station 25 times – 10 of which were repeat journeys.

The Dragon capsule has room for seven people and solar panels to provide power
Image:
The Dragon capsule has room for seven people and solar panels to provide power

It is capable of carrying 365lbs (166kg) of cargo, which is being used for scientific equipment and crew essentials on this journey.

Solar panels on the outside of the craft are used to generate power for the capsule and crew.

The touchscreen control panels in the capsule allow the crew to monitor telemetry
Image:
The touchscreen control panels in the capsule allow the crew to monitor telemetry

The vessel is largely automatically controlled, with a set of large touch screens instead of the traditional-looking dashboard of buttons, levers and toggles for the pilots to observe.

The pilots can also take control of the capsule with the touchscreens.

Sixteen Draco thrusters are used to direct the vehicle after it separates from the take-off rocket, and it has a set of parachutes for landing.

How are they getting back?

A splashdown of a Dragon capsule. Pic: NASA
Image:
A splashdown of a Dragon capsule. Pic: NASA

After the orbiting is complete, the capsule will head back to Earth.

According to the official plan, this will culminate in a “soft water landing” off the coast of Florida.

After re-entering our planet’s atmosphere, two “drogue” parachutes are deployed, before four main canopies are released.

The crew and vessel will then be retrieved from the water.

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Suspect who targeted fire service in ‘ambush’ shooting named as aspiring firefighter

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Suspect who targeted fire service in 'ambush' shooting named as aspiring firefighter

A gunman suspected of having started a fire to “ambush” firefighters in Idaho and kill them has been named as Wess Val Roley.

The 20-year-old is said to have aspired to become a firefighter before the attack on Sunday, which saw him allegedly perched in a sniper position, firing at the firefighters as they sought to put out a fire, which authorities believe he intentionally started.

Two firefighters were killed and one was injured as they came under gunfire over several hours, according to authorities.

An armoured police vehicle where multiple firefighters were attacked when responding to a fire.
Pic: Reuters
Image:
An armoured police vehicle near where the firefighters were attacked. Pic: Reuters

They said the incident took place after they asked him to move his vehicle.

Roley was later found dead in the mountains with a firearm nearby.

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Sky News’ US partner network NBC quoted Roley’s grandfather, Dale Roley, as saying “something must have snapped” in his grandson for him to commit such violence.

“He actually really respected law enforcement,” Mr Roley said. “He loved firefighters. It didn’t make sense that he was shooting firefighters. Maybe he got rejected or something.”

Mr Roley added: “I know he had been in contact to get a job with a fire department.

“He wanted to be part of a team that he sort of idolised.”

Bob Norris, the sheriff of Kootenai County, said on Sunday: “We do believe that the suspect started the fire.

“This was a total ambush. These firefighters did not have a chance.”

Smoke billows into the air after several firefighters were attacked while responding to a fire. Pic: Reuters
Image:
The firefighters were responding to a blaze. Pic: Reuters

Officers said they were “taking sniper fire” near the city of Coeur d’Alene on Sunday afternoon, with crews responding to a fire at Canfield Mountain.

Mr Norris said the gunman had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders. The ambush continued for several hours.

More than 300 officers from city, county, state and federal levels responded. Two helicopters were deployed with snipers onboard.

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First responders could be heard making urgent calls for help on their radios. “Everybody’s shot up here… send law enforcement now,” one dispatch said.

Later, the sheriff’s office said members of a SWAT team “located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain”, adding that a “firearm was found nearby”.

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Trump takes aim at Fed chair Jerome Powell again and says he ‘should be ashamed’

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Trump takes aim at Fed chair Jerome Powell again and says he 'should be ashamed'

Donald Trump has launched his latest attack on the US central bank, saying the interest rate setters had “failed”.

Over the weekend, he said he wanted interest rates to be 1% and that he would “love” for Jerome Powell, the chair of the Federal Reserve, to resign.

It comes less than two weeks since he called Mr Powell a “stupid person” and said: “Maybe I should go to the Fed. Am I allowed to appoint myself at the Fed?”

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday, Mr Trump said: “Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell, and his entire board, should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen to the United States.”

It was not clear what Mr Trump was referring to when referencing “this”.

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“If they were doing their job properly, our country would be saving trillions of dollars in interest cost. The board just sits there and watches, so they are equally to blame,” the post read.

“We should be paying 1% interest, or better!”

A message to Mr Powell was also written on a leaderboard of countries’ interest rates, ranked from low to high, showing the US ranked 35th, coming behind the United Arab Emirates and the UK.

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The Federal Reserve, known as the Fed, had held the cost of borrowing at 4.25%-4.5%. Unlike the UK, the US interest rate is a range to guide lenders rather than a single percentage.

Despite the threats from Mr Trump and from his press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who told reporters inflation was “completely diminished”, markets are not expecting a cut when the Fed next considers interest rates next month.

In fact, no reduction is currently anticipated until September.

Are interest rates really that high in the US?

Not since December last year has the rate been cut.

The Fed has expressed concern about the impact of Mr Trump’s signature economic policy of implementing new tariffs, taxes on imports to the US.

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Trump’s tariffs: What you need to know

Inflation – the overall rate of price rises – has ticked up to 2.4% while the Fed said it expected further rises due to tariffs.

Interest rates have been hiked in an effort to bring inflation down to the Fed’s 2% target.

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It has meant the cost of borrowing is slightly higher than in the UK, where the Bank of England has set rates at 4.25%.

It’s also above the level of euro-using countries, where the European Central Bank has set rates at 2%.

What’s the reaction been?

Mr Powell has not retaliated, and the Fed declined to comment on Monday.

There was little market reaction as major US stock indexes had hit record highs amid hopes of trade deals with countries, rather than a return of country-specific tariffs.

Ironically, the dollar has been at a more than three-year low over worries of the US deficit expanding further with Mr Trump’s so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill” being voted on.

The fact that interest rate cuts could come in recent months is also contributing, as currencies tend to be supported by higher rates as they can attract foreign investment.

In the past, comments about replacing Mr Powell, appointed by President Trump in 2017, have led to concern from investors, which saw Mr Trump say he would not replace the chair before his term ends in May 2026.

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Donald Trump says ‘very wealthy group’ has agreed to buy TikTok in the US

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Donald Trump says 'very wealthy group' has agreed to buy TikTok in the US

Donald Trump has said the US government has found a buyer for TikTok that he will reveal “in about two weeks”.

The president told Fox News “it’s a group of very wealthy people”, adding: “I think I’ll probably need China approval, I think President Xi will probably do it.”

TikTok was ordered last year to find a new owner for its US operation – or face a ban – after politicians said they feared sensitive data about Americans could be passed to the Chinese government.

The video app’s owner, Bytedance, has repeatedly denied such claims.

It originally had a deadline of 19 January to find a buyer – and many users were shocked when it “went dark” for a number of hours when that date came round, before later being restored.

However, President Trump has now extended the deadline several times.

The last extension was on 19 June, when he signed an executive order pushing it back to 17 September.

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Mr Trump’s latest comments suggest multiple people coming together to take control of the app in the US.

Among those rumoured to be potential buyers include YouTube superstar Mr Beast, US search engine startup Perplexity AI, and Kevin O’Leary – an investor from Shark Tank (the US version of Dragons’ Den).

Bytedance said in April that it was still talking to the US government, but there were “differences on many key issues”.

It’s believed the Chinese government will have to approve any agreement.

The president said the identity of the buyer would be disclosed in about two weeks. Pic: Fox News
Image:
The president said the identity of the buyer would be disclosed in about two weeks. Pic: Fox News

President Trump’s interview with Fox News also touched on the upcoming end of the pause in US tariffs on imported goods.

On April 9, he granted a 90-day reprieve for countries threatened with a tariff of more than 10% to give them time to negotiate.

Deals have already been struck with some countries, including the UK.

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The president said he didn’t think he would need to push back the 9 July deadline and that letters would be sent out imminently stating what tariff each country would face.

“We’ll look at the deficit we have – or whatever it is with the country; we’ll look at how the country treats us – are they good, are they not so good. Some countries, we don’t care – we’ll just send a high number out,” he said.

“But we’re going to be sending letters out starting pretty soon. We don’t have to meet, we have all the numbers.”

The president announced the tariffs in April, arguing they were correcting an unfair trade relationship and would return lost prosperity to US industries such as car-making.

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