Cancer Survivor Looks Forward to Joining Private Space Flight
2021-02-27
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1After beating bone cancer, Hayley Arceneaux thinks rocketing into orbit on SpaceX's first private flight should be no problem at all.
2St. Jude Children's Research Hospital announced the 29-year-old doctor's assistant will rocket into space later this year.
3Arceneaux - a former patient at St. Jude - will become the youngest American in space, beating NASA record-holder Sally Ride by over two years.
4She will travel with businessman Jared Isaacman, who is using the spaceflight he bought to raise money for charity.
5Two other yet-to-be-chosen space flyers will join them.
6Arceneaux will be the first person to launch with a prosthesis - an artificial device that replaces a missing or injured part of the body.
7When she was 10, Arceneaux had an operation at St. Jude to replace her knee and a piece of metal was put in her left leg.
8She still limps and has occasional leg pain.
9Limp is a term that means to walk slowly because of an injury.
10Arceneaux has been cleared to fly by SpaceX and will serve as the crew's medical officer.
11"My battle with cancer really prepared me for space travel," she recently told The Associated Press.
12"It made me tough, and then also I think it really taught me to expect the unexpected and go along for the ride."
13Arceneaux wants to show her young patients and other cancer survivors that "the sky is not even the limit anymore."
14"It's going to mean so much to these kids to see a survivor in space" she said.
15Isaacman announced his space flight February 1, promising to raise $200 million for St. Jude.
16He will provide half of the amount himself.
17As the flight's self-appointed commander, he offered one of the four seats aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft to St. Jude.
18The hospital chose Arceneaux from among its many workers who had once been patients.
19The idea was that one of them could represent the new generation, noted Rick Shadyac, president of St. Jude's financing organization.
20Arceneaux was at home in Memphis, Tennessee, when she got a surprising call in January.
21She was asked if she would represent St. Jude in space.
22A lifelong space fan who loves adventures, Arceneaux has traveled widely and loves roller coasters.
23Isaacman, who flies fighter airplanes for fun, considers her a perfect fit.
24"It's not all supposed to be about getting people excited to be astronauts someday, which is certainly cool," Isaacman, 38, said last week.
25"It's also supposed to be about an inspiring message of what we can accomplish here on Earth."
26Isaacman has two more people to choose, and he plans to announce them in March.
27One will be a contest winner who donates to St. Jude.
28So far, more than $9 million has been raised for the hospital, Shadyac said.
29The other seat will go to a business owner who uses Isaacman's credit card-processing company.
30The launch is planned for this fall at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, with the spacecraft orbiting Earth for two to four days.
31I'm John Russell.
1After beating bone cancer, Hayley Arceneaux thinks rocketing into orbit on SpaceX's first private flight should be no problem at all. 2St. Jude Children's Research Hospital announced the 29-year-old doctor's assistant will rocket into space later this year. 3Arceneaux - a former patient at St. Jude - will become the youngest American in space, beating NASA record-holder Sally Ride by over two years. 4She will travel with businessman Jared Isaacman, who is using the spaceflight he bought to raise money for charity. Two other yet-to-be-chosen space flyers will join them. 5Arceneaux will be the first person to launch with a prosthesis - an artificial device that replaces a missing or injured part of the body. 6When she was 10, Arceneaux had an operation at St. Jude to replace her knee and a piece of metal was put in her left leg. She still limps and has occasional leg pain. Limp is a term that means to walk slowly because of an injury. 7Arceneaux has been cleared to fly by SpaceX and will serve as the crew's medical officer. 8"My battle with cancer really prepared me for space travel," she recently told The Associated Press. "It made me tough, and then also I think it really taught me to expect the unexpected and go along for the ride." 9Arceneaux wants to show her young patients and other cancer survivors that "the sky is not even the limit anymore." 10"It's going to mean so much to these kids to see a survivor in space" she said. 11Isaacman announced his space flight February 1, promising to raise $200 million for St. Jude. He will provide half of the amount himself. As the flight's self-appointed commander, he offered one of the four seats aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft to St. Jude. 12The hospital chose Arceneaux from among its many workers who had once been patients. The idea was that one of them could represent the new generation, noted Rick Shadyac, president of St. Jude's financing organization. 13Arceneaux was at home in Memphis, Tennessee, when she got a surprising call in January. She was asked if she would represent St. Jude in space. 14A lifelong space fan who loves adventures, Arceneaux has traveled widely and loves roller coasters. 15Isaacman, who flies fighter airplanes for fun, considers her a perfect fit. 16"It's not all supposed to be about getting people excited to be astronauts someday, which is certainly cool," Isaacman, 38, said last week. "It's also supposed to be about an inspiring message of what we can accomplish here on Earth." 17Isaacman has two more people to choose, and he plans to announce them in March. 18One will be a contest winner who donates to St. Jude. So far, more than $9 million has been raised for the hospital, Shadyac said. The other seat will go to a business owner who uses Isaacman's credit card-processing company. 19The launch is planned for this fall at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, with the spacecraft orbiting Earth for two to four days. 20I'm John Russell. 21Marcia Dunn reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 22_____________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24charity - n. an official organization that gives money, food or help to people in need 25artificial - adj. not natural, but made by people 26adventure - n. an exciting and sometimes dangerous experience 27roller coaster - n. a ride at an amusement park which is like a small, open train with tracks that are high off the ground and that have sharp curves and steep hills 28cool - adj. very fashionable, stylish, or appealing in a way that is generally approved of 29inspiring - adj. causing people to want to do or create something or to lead better lives 30accomplish - v. to succeed in doing (something)