SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission makes history with the world’s first private spacewalk, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman. Discover the details of this groundbreaking mission and what it means for the future of space exploration.
SpaceX is always breaking boundaries when it comes to space missions and is now entering a new chapter in private space travel-the Polaris Dawn mission. Launching on September 10, 2024, via a Falcon 9 rocket, it aims to introduce the world’s first-ever private spacewalk, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman with three other astronauts on this groundbreaking journey. It is part of the Polaris Program-a series of three spaceflights funded by Isaacman, who commanded the Inspiration4 mission in 2021.
Polaris Dawn Mission: A Bold New Frontier
The Polaris Dawn mission, nicknamed after the North Star, is more than just a space flight-it symbolizes the bold leap toward commercial space exploration. It is the first of three planned to take place under the Polaris Program, which advances human spaceflight capability further and opens up space for future missions. Unlike previous missions, Polaris Dawn boasts the very first commercial spacewalk, adding to the growing list of feats by SpaceX.
The team consists of as many as four experienced space professionals, each bringing a skill set different from the others that is important to the mission. They include Jared Isaacman, mission commander, and Lt. Col. Scott “Kidd” Poteet, a retired U.S. Air Force officer serving as pilot. Mission Specialist is Sarah Gillis, a lead space operations engineer with SpaceX, while Mission Specialist and Medical Officer is Anna Menon, a lead operations engineer with the company. The astronauts will fly on the Crew Dragon capsule, Resilienc, which will be flying for the third time and further demonstrates the capabilities of reusable space vehicles to carry astronauts into space safely.
The Spacewalk: A Landmark Achievement
On September 12, the crew of Polaris Dawn made history in setting a new precedent for private missions. Based from the SpaceX Crew Dragon *Resilience*, mission commander Jared Isaacman and mission specialist Sarah Gillis stepped out into the vacuum of space, tethered to the spacecraft on a 12-foot umbilical line. This umbilical cord would also provide them with a constant supply of oxygen, communication lines, and a safety link to secure the astronauts strongly with the spacecraft during EVA.
Unlike the EVA suits worn on International Space Station missions, the new suits provided by SpaceX would be for short-duration spacewalks that are attached to the spacecraft. Without personal life support systems essential in extended-duration spacewalks, they were adequate for the mission’s planned activities. This is the first time such an operation has occurred with a private crew, highlighting the improving capability of commercial space flight.
The Success and Significance of the Mission
The Polaris Dawn spacewalk was carefully choreographed and executed. Following a series of leak checks and suit tests, the crew started the depressurization of the Crew Dragon *Resilience* cabin, venting it down to the vacuum of space. Starting at 3:12 a.m. PDT-after all systems had been checked as go-Isaacman and Gillis began their historic spacewalk. They utilized a novel “Skywalker” mobility platform from SpaceX, handrail aide that let them secure themselves while floating in space.
Isaacman, or “EV1,” was the first out of the spacecraft, followed by Gillis, “EV2.” They made a number of specific movements and functionality tests of SpaceX’s EVA suits to help validate the design of the suit for future missions. The spacewalk went without significant incident, though a minor observation of “bulging” in the Dragon hatch seals was noted. The time from depressurization to the end of the EVA took about 1 hour and 46 minutes.
A Glimpse into the Future of Space Exploration
The Polaris Dawn mission is a testament to the fact that space exploration through commercial means continues to get better. It is indicative that, given the right vision and resources, private entities can accomplish things that were once the domain of government agencies alone. The successful spacewalk further enhances SpaceX’s reputation as one of the leading companies in terms of space innovation and paves the way for future missions that could possibly include even more complex and longer-duration EVAs.
With the Polaris Program accelerating, we might expect even more ambitious goals being explored well beyond what is currently thought possible in space. With SpaceX at the forefront, the future of space exploration looks bright as new doors will open to more opportunities in scientific discovery and commercial ventures, and eventually to human settlements beyond Earth.
The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission did what it was meant to do: a historic private spacewalk. They were not only etched in history but also contributed to future private space travel going down the path. Since the Polaris Program is just starting, this cannot be any sort of finale but the beginning of surely what is going to be an exciting new space travel era.
