MUSIC OF THE SPHERES

Astronaut Chris Sembroski took a Martin ukulele to space and discovered the joy of making music in microgravity.

- JIMMY LESLIE

IF YOU STRUM A ukulele in space, does it make a sound? In Chris Sembroski’s case, it certainly makes a difference. The Air Force veteran won the Generosity seat on the first-ever all civilian crew for SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission. With a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, the U.S. Space Camp counselor and Lockheed Martin data engineer was entered in the contest that ultimately punched his ticket beyond the stratosphere. He brought a Martin soprano ukulele designed specially for the mission aboard and played it in space. Now that uke, autographed by the entire crew, is being auctioned off during St. Jude’s Virtual Holiday Auction, from November 22 to December 6, as a part of the overriding goal of raising $200 million (see stjude. org for details).

The other members of Inpiration4 included commander and benefactor Jared Isaacman representing Leadership, Dr. Sian Proctor representing Prosperity and Hayley Arcenaux representing Hope. Arcenaux is a cancer survivor who was treated at St. Jude’s and now works there. The Netflix documentary Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space, introduced the crew to the world prior to the September 15 launch, which SpaceX streamed live. Watching the Dragon capsule engulfed in flames as it burst forth made the extraordinary danger level extremely obvious. After orbiting the earth over three days at the highest altitude ever — beyond the International Space Station — the crew splashed down safely in the Atlantic.