Netflix announces Space X documentary on civilian mission into orbit

Netflix will stream a documentary next month which will follow the story of the world's first private all-civilian space orbit.

The group will board a SpaceX capsule next month and spend three days orbiting the earth, becoming Netflix's first documentary "to cover an event in near real-time".

The privately chartered flight will be commanded, funded and led by 38-year-old billionaire Jared Isaacman, and aim to support St Jude Children's Research Hospital to the tune of $200 million.

He will be joined on board by Sian Proctor, a geoscientist and former NASA candidate, Christopher Sembroski, a US Airforce veteran, and Hayley Arceneaux, a doctor's assistant at St Jude and childhood cancer survivor.

The group will apparently reach a higher altitude than the International Space Station as they orbit the planet in the SpaceX Dragon capsule, dubbed Inspiration4.

The quick-turnaround documentary will be made in five parts, with the first two premiering on 6 September.

Inspiration4's actual launch is scheduled for 15 September - an event which will feature in the final part at the end of the month.

Viewers have been promised behind the scenes access of the mission - from their selection, to footage from inside the spacecraft while it orbits Earth.