SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission is poised to make history on September 12, 2024, at 2:23 AM ET, as it attempts the first-ever private spacewalk. The mission, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, has already achieved a significant milestone by reaching an altitude of 1,400 kilometers, the farthest point from Earth since the Apollo moon landings over 50 years ago.The four-person civilian crew, consisting of Isaacman, Sarah Gillis, Scott Poteet, and Anna Menon, has been orbiting Earth since Tuesday. Isaacman and Gillis will conduct the spacewalk, exiting the Crew Dragon capsule while tethered by oxygen lines, as Poteet and Menon monitor from inside. The spacewalkers will test new SpaceX-developed spacesuits, which are slimmed-down versions designed for future missions.This groundbreaking mission aims to push the boundaries of commercial spaceflight and contribute to scientific research. The crew will conduct 36 experiments, including collecting data on the effects of space travel on the human body. As Jancy McPhee, chief scientist of NASA’s Human Research Program, stated, ‘Each mission, whether crewed by commercial astronauts or NASA astronauts, offers a fundamental opportunity to expand our knowledge of how spaceflight affects human health’.The Polaris Dawn mission also includes testing optical communications through SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, potentially revolutionizing data transmission from spacecraft to ground stations. Isaacman emphasized the mission’s significance, saying, ‘This effort will expand upon decades of astronaut studies’.While this private endeavor marks a new era in space exploration, international cooperation in space continues. Coincidentally, on September 11, 2024, a Soyuz spacecraft carrying an international crew successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS), demonstrating ongoing collaboration between NASA and Roscosmos despite geopolitical tensions.
Key points
- SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission will attempt the first private spacewalk on September 12, 2024.
- The mission has reached a record-breaking altitude of 1,400 kilometers, the farthest from Earth since Apollo.
- The crew will conduct 36 experiments and test new SpaceX-developed spacesuits.
- This mission marks a significant milestone in commercial spaceflight and space research.
