SpaceX is gearing up for a significant milestone in space exploration with the imminent launch of Polaris Dawn. This private space mission aims to conduct the first-ever civilian spacewalk. The launch is scheduled for this week, with SpaceX announcing that the Falcon 9 rocket will lift off on Tuesday, August 27, at 3:38 AM ET.
This mission, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, intends to take its crew of four private citizens on a journey that will reach up to 870 miles from Earth, the farthest any human has traveled since the Apollo program.
A key mission highlight will be the spacewalk, where two crew members are expected to step outside the SpaceX Dragon capsule at 435 miles above Earth.
The Polaris Dawn crew is a carefully selected team with diverse expertise. Jared Isaacman, the CEO of Shift4, will serve as the mission’s commander. The pilot, retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Scott “Kidd” Poteet, will assist Isaacman in navigating the spacecraft.
SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon will join them as mission specialists. Menon will also act as a medical officer, overseeing the crew’s health during the mission. The mission is expected to last approximately five days, with all crew members playing crucial roles throughout the journey.
One of the mission’s most daring elements is the spacewalk, which will involve opening the hatch of the Dragon capsule at an altitude of 435 miles. Since the Dragon capsule lacks an airlock, this maneuver will expose all crew members to the vacuum of space.
To ensure their safety, the crew will rely on SpaceX’s new Extravehicular Activity (EVA) spacesuits, which have undergone extensive ground testing. Although only two crew members will leave the spacecraft during the spacewalk, the integrity of the suits is critical for the entire crew.
Mission specialists expressed confidence in these suits, noting that they have been pressurized multiple times during tests to ensure they can withstand the conditions of space.
Beyond the spacewalk, Polaris Dawn will serve as a platform for testing SpaceX’s Starlink laser-based communication systems in space for the first time. Additionally, the mission will gather valuable data to support ongoing research into the effects of spaceflight on human health.
Polaris Dawn marks the beginning of a series of planned missions. It is the first of three Polaris spaceflights, each designed to push the boundaries of private space exploration and contribute to our understanding of space travel. Years in the making, this mission is set to be a significant step forward in commercial space exploration.
