SpaceX is gearing up for a groundbreaking mission called Polaris Dawn, which will carry four private individuals aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft.
None of these crew members are professional astronauts, but they will embark on a journey beyond Earth’s orbit atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Billionaire Jared Isaacman, who is both funding and commanding the mission, aims to further SpaceX’s long-term goal of sending humans to Mars.
A Mission Beyond Space Tourism
Unlike typical space tourism trips, Polaris Dawn is centered around pioneering experiments and technological advancements, including the first commercial spacewalk. SpaceX’s Vice President of Build and Flight Reliability, Bill Gerstenmaier, highlighted the mission’s importance, noting the private sector’s role in exploring frontiers beyond Earth’s environment.
A Diverse and Skilled Crew
The Polaris Dawn crew includes Scott Poteet, a former US Air Force pilot, and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. Over the course of approximately five days in space, they will travel farther from Earth than any human has in over 50 years, reaching altitudes up to 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) above the planet’s surface. Their journey through the Van Allen radiation belts will allow them to study space radiation’s effects on the human body—research vital for future Mars missions.
Pioneering the First Commercial Spacewalk
On the mission’s third day, the crew will conduct a spacewalk using new extravehicular spacesuits designed by SpaceX. These advanced suits feature cutting-edge materials and enhanced mobility. The crew will exit the spacecraft for this spacewalk, with the entire cabin depressurized, exposing the interior to the vacuum of space—a first for the Crew Dragon. While acknowledging the risks, Isaacman expressed confidence in SpaceX’s thorough preparations and testing.
Preparing for Future Space Exploration
The spacewalk is a central focus of Polaris Dawn, with meticulous planning and extensive simulations already completed. SpaceX has developed a “pre-breathe” protocol to prevent decompression sickness, similar to procedures used on the International Space Station.
The Future of the Polaris Program
Polaris Dawn is just the beginning of the Polaris program, which aims to pave the way for even more ambitious space exploration. The program’s third mission is expected to be the first crewed flight of SpaceX’s Starship, the massive rocket designed for future Mars colonization.
This is insane.
SpaceX is sending four people to space on August 26th to attempt the world’s first private industry spacewalk.
Billionaire Jared Isaacman (second from right) paid for the flight.
AdvertisementCivilians going to space is one thing, but allowing them to spacewalk is wild 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ykNaJWQYjl
— Anthony Pompliano 🌪 (@APompliano) August 17, 2024
