Chris Sembroski | |
---|---|
Born | Christopher Sembroski August 28, 1979 |
Nationality | USA |
Occupations |
|
Known for | Private astronaut aboard Inspiration4 |
Space career | |
Crew Dragon Astronaut Commercial Astronaut | |
Time in space | 2d 23h 3m |
Selection | Mission Specialist |
Missions | Inspiration4 |
Christopher Sembroski (born August 28, 1979) is an American data engineer, Air Force veteran, and commercial astronaut. He flew to orbit on Inspiration4, a private spaceflight funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman.
Sembroski is a Blue Origin employee and was a crew member on the Inspiration4 mission.[1] The spaceflight position was given to Sembroski by his friend Kyle Hippchen, as he was unable to accept the prize because he exceeded the weight limit of the Dragon vehicle.[2][3]
Sembroski has long had an interest in space, being an amateur astronomer and rocketeer.[4][5][6] Sembroski received the call sign "Hanks" during training.[7]
He is featured on the cover of a Time magazine double issue with the rest of the crew of Inspiration4 in August 2021.[8]
Sembroski grew up in Kannapolis, North Carolina.[1] During college, Sembroski volunteered for ProSpace, a nonprofit organization advocating for private spaceflight.[5] Sembroski also was a counselor at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama which promotes science, technology, engineering, and math to children and teenagers.[4][5] After college, Sembroski joined the United States Air Force as an Electro-Mechanical Technician stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, MT.[9] Sembroski worked as a data engineer for Lockheed Martin.[6] He has since moved to work as an avionics engineer at Blue Origin.[10]
He is a member of the Association of Space Explorers.[11]