Four "amateur astronauts" are about to launch into orbit in another landmark mission for space tourism.

It's the latest flight to help open up access to space for paying customers, following on from launches by Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos.

The trip has been paid for by US billionaire businessman Jared Isaacman, who will travel with three crewmates.

A healthcare worker, a science educator and a data analyst will circle the Earth with Mr Isaacman for three days.

They hope to inspire others with their adventure and to raise money for children's cancer medicine. Accordingly, the mission has been named Inspiration4.

The crew's Dragon vehicle, manufactured by Elon Musk's company SpaceX, will ride atop a Falcon-9 rocket. It is due to launch from Florida's Kennedy Space Center at 20:02 EDT on Wednesday (01:02 BST, Thursday), or very shortly after.

The spacecraft will reach an altitude of 575km (360 miles), which is about 150km higher than the International Space Station (ISS). The quartet will then spend their time doing experiments and looking at Earth through a large domed window which offers panoramic views.

The glass dome has been fitted in place of the mechanism Dragon normally uses to dock with the ISS, which isn't needed on this flight.

The splashdown at the end of the flight will be targeted at the Atlantic Ocean.

The opportunities are endless. If normal people can go, it will mean anybody can go. It will be a huge boost for space tourism. Imagine going to the moon for fun.
It will change the game completely. Its just like when traveling on an airplane was for ordinary people. Or when automobiles where available for common man.
If this also works, it will help for interplanetary transportation of humans and the spread of humankind as a whole.

I will get there