Washington DC: A bone cancer survivor, Hayley Arceneaux will be the first person with a prosthetic body part to visit space and the youngest American ever to orbit Earth.
Hayley was diagnosed with bone cancer at 10 and had some of the bones in her left leg replaced with titanium as part of her treatment. She was treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where she now works with children who are being treated for lymphoma and leukemia.
St. Jude on Monday announced that Arceneaux will be one of four crew members on the world's first all-civilian mission to space. Arceneaux will become the first person with a prosthetic body part to travel to space.
According to a press release, the crew members of mission are being selected based on mission pillars of leadership, hope, generosity and prosperity. Hence, Arceneaux will represent hope.
The mission which is called Inspiration4 is tentatively set to take off at the end of 2021.
The 29-year old took to Instagram and wrote, “The secret is finally out! Later this year I will be part of the first all-civilian mission to space ".
While expressing her pleasure and gratitude she wrote, “I am so grateful for this incredible, once in a lifetime opportunity and honor".
"I cannot WAIT to show the world what cancer survivors can do" she added.
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In an interview with NBC's TODAY, Arceneaux said she never thought that she would be able to go to space.
“I never thought I’d able to go to space… this mission is changing things.”
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 22, 2021
Hayley Arceneaux, a 29-year-old cancer survivor who has been selected as a civilian member of the @SpaceX Inspiration4 crew, joins us for her first official interview as a civilian astronaut. pic.twitter.com/kJucPacAma
She will orbit Earth for up to five days in the Crew Dragon capsule as part of the Inspiration4 mission.
