SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission successfully launched on September 10, 2024, at 6:23 am ET from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking a significant milestone in private space exploration. The five-day mission, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, aims to conduct the first-ever commercial spacewalk and reach an altitude of approximately 1,400 kilometers, surpassing the record set by NASA’s Gemini 11 mission in 1966.The four-person civilian crew consists of Isaacman, retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel 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.On the third day of the mission, Isaacman and Gillis will attempt a two-hour spacewalk, exiting the Crew Dragon spacecraft completely at an altitude of about 700 kilometers. This unprecedented event will test SpaceX’s new extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits, designed for future missions to the Moon and Mars.The mission will also evaluate the effects of space radiation on human health, particularly as the spacecraft passes through the Van Allen Radiation Belt. Additionally, the crew will test laser-based communications for the Starlink satellite network.Jared Isaacman emphasized the significance of the mission, stating, ‘There’s always a risk calculus to it, but the real focus is on what we stand to gain and learn from it’. He also expressed his vision for the future, saying, ‘I imagine one day, many people or even families will be jumping on the lunar surface with their SpaceX suits’.The Polaris Dawn mission 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. As the first of three planned missions in the Polaris program, it aims to advance space exploration capabilities while also raising funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Key points
- SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission successfully launched on September 10, 2024, aiming to conduct the first commercial spacewalk.
- The mission will reach an altitude of approximately 1,400 kilometers, the highest since the Apollo program.
- The crew will conduct over 40 scientific experiments and test new technologies, including SpaceX’s new spacesuits.
- This mission is part of the broader Polaris program, setting the stage for future Moon and Mars missions.
