SpaceX's first tourist crew brought along a plush dog wearing a spacesuit.
Based on Puggle and Huckleberry service dogs at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the space pup was created.
Although the plush dog has been sold, it is still part of the fundraising effort for childhood-cancer research.
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SpaceX's first tourist crew brought with them a fluffy stowaway when they launched into Earth's orbit.
On Wednesday, the Inspiration4 mission took off from Cape Canaveral in Florida. SpaceX broadcast live from the spaceship's camera. It showed four amateurs being forced into their seats by rocket's force. They were Jared Isaacman (billionaire businessman), Sian Proctor (geoscientist and science communicator), Hayley Arceneaux (physician assistant) and Chris Sembroski (engineer).
They will soon be the first humans to orbit Earth without any professional astronauts.
A plush doll began floating around the cabin as the Crew Dragon spaceship made its way around Earth. It was a golden retriever. Later footage showed it wearing a SpaceX spacesuit that was very similar to what the human passengers wore.
SpaceX's live broadcast of the launch shows a plush dog flying around in Crew Dragon on September 15, 2021. SpaceX
The toy was based on Puggle and Huckleberry, two real-life dogs who work at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Children undergoing treatment for cancer are comforted by the golden retriever or goldendoodle. They arrived at the hospital in 2019 from their service-dog school.
Arceneaux stated that Puggle, Huckleberry and Huckleberry "sit together with the children when they're afraid, they climb up into bed with them," during a Crew Dragon video broadcast. They'll even take the children through the MRI or CAT scan machines before they do. This is to show them it's not scary. We wanted to send one of these sweet dogs to space.
Arceneaux is a St. Jude physician-assistant today. As a child, she was treated for bone cancer. She now has a prosthetic leg, and has a rod in her left leg.
Arceneaux stated that "Because I have cancer, knowing that today I'm here and getting to represent all of these other children, this is my greatest honor in my life," during a Tuesday press conference.
To raise funds for St. Jude, the plush puppy is available to purchase
Isaacman is aiming to raise $200m for St. Jude's pediatric cancer research by asking for donations online, and bidding on items related to the flight. This is in addition to the $100 million Isaacman has already donated.
The Inspiration4 mission had raised almost $52 million as of Friday evening.
The Inspiration4 crew sits in a Crew Dragon model spaceship. From left to right: Sian Proctor and Hayley Arceneaux. SpaceX
Jude, a machine-washable polyester puppy, can be purchased on the St. Jude website at $24 with all proceeds going directly to the hospital. The plush service-dog plush was out stock as of Friday evening.
As a "zero gravity indicator," astronauts have a long tradition of taking a plush toy along to space. They know when it begins floating that they are in orbit. These toys are also a tradition. SpaceX has previously carried a baby Yoda doll and a dinosaur named Sparkly, as well as a penguin named Guin Guin.
Jude, Jude the plush dog, and his human crewmates will be returning to Earth on Saturday. They'll be swimming down from Florida at 7:06 pm. ET.
