Pilot Missed Chance To Be Part of SpaceX Inspiration4 Crew After Winning Raffle Due To His Weight

Most people when given the chance to travel to space would instantly take the opportunity. But the 43-year-old airline pilot who won the raffle ticket to become one of SpaceX's Inspiration4 crew gave his seat to his long-time friend who was also his college roommate.

At 5ft10 and 330lbs, Kyle Hippchen from Florida was delighted to have won the raffle ticket but was saddened to exceed the weight limit of 250lbs set by SpaceX. So, he decided to give it to data engineer Chris Sembroski who flew with three others during the Inspiration4 flight on September 15, 2021.

(Photo : CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Inspiration4 crew launches from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on September 15, 2021.

The Man Who Won A Trip to Space

Missing the opportunity to fly to space is a bitter pill that Hippchen had to swallow. "It hurts too much," Metro News quoted Hippchen as saying. "I'm insanely disappointed. But it is what it is."

Hippchen shared his story while visiting NASA's Kennedy Space Station Center where he explained that only about 50 people knew he was the real winner of the raffle ticket that would bring civilians to space to orbit Earth. He said that he did not say anything last year because he did not want the crew to become distracted.

Chris Sembroski was the roommate of Hippchen during their college years in Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the late 1990s. Since then, they have become close friends that even today they share space news with each other. When accomplished pilot and adventurer Jared Isaacman, founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, said he would raffle the seats to Inspiration4, they hurriedly joined it.

Hippchen has already spent $600 while Sembroski only spent $50. He was glad when he received the email telling him that he won, but when he learned that the winner should be under 6ft6 and 250 pounds, he hesitated. As a pilot, he knows that the weight limit is a safety precaution and should be strictly followed.

He thought of losing 80lbs in the next six months but realized it is not the most healthy option. So, he decided to give it to a friend who would treasure it as much as he did. SpaceX allowed him to choose a replacement and so Sembroski was chosen. Isaacman said that Kyle's willingness to give his winning raffle ticket to Chris was indeed an admirable example of generosity.

ALSO READ: SpaceX Gives Astronaut Wings to Its Inspiration4 Crew; Can You Guess What FAA Said?

What is the Ideal Weight to Qualify As An Astronaut?

Retired astronauts told The Canadian Press via the National Post what it takes to become an astronaut in Canada. They said, aside from being in excellent health, prospective astronauts must also pass the following requirements:

Must be 149.5 cm to 190.5 cm (4ft10in to 6ft3in) tall
110lbs to 209 lbs (50-95 kgs)
Must have a 20/20 vision
Not colorblind
Have normal hearing
With blood pressure not over 140/90

For their educational requirements, astronauts must have a bachelor's degree in engineering or science, including physics, chemistry, biology, geology, mathematics, computer science, from a recognized university. A doctorate degree is also an advantage.

Lastly, practical experience is a must. Aspiring astronauts must have at least three years of relevant professional experience, a master's degree or one-year professional experience.