SpaceX has successfully launched the Polaris Dawn mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on September 10, 2024, at 5:23 a.m. ET, marking a significant milestone in private space exploration. The mission, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, aims to conduct the first-ever commercial spacewalk and reach the highest Earth orbit since the Apollo program.The four-person civilian crew consists of Isaacman, former Air Force pilot Scott ‘Kidd’ Poteet, and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. They will spend five days in space, conducting over 40 scientific experiments and testing new technologies. The mission’s primary objectives include performing the first commercial spacewalk, testing SpaceX’s new extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits, and reaching an altitude of approximately 1,400 kilometers, surpassing the record set by the Gemini 11 mission in 1966.On the third day of the mission, two crew members will attempt a two-hour spacewalk, exiting the Crew Dragon spacecraft completely. This unprecedented event will test the new spacesuits designed for future SpaceX missions to the Moon and Mars. The mission will also evaluate the effects of space radiation on human health and test laser-based communications for the Starlink satellite network.Jessica Jensen, SpaceX’s vice president of customer integration and operations, emphasized the significance of the mission, stating, ‘Today’s successful launch of Polaris Dawn highlights that the future of human spaceflight is happening now’. The mission is part of the broader Polaris program, which aims to advance space exploration capabilities and raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.As the Polaris Dawn mission unfolds, it represents a major step forward in commercial space exploration and sets the stage for future ambitious projects, including potential missions to the Moon and Mars using SpaceX’s Starship mega-rocket.
Key points
- SpaceX successfully launched the Polaris Dawn mission on September 10, 2024, aiming for the first commercial spacewalk.
- The mission will reach an altitude of 1,400 kilometers, the highest since the Apollo program.
- The crew will conduct over 40 scientific experiments and test new technologies, including EVA spacesuits and Starlink communications.
