SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission has made history by conducting the first-ever commercial spacewalk. The crew of four astronauts, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, floated outside the Dragon spacecraft, marking a significant achievement in the era of private spaceflight. This spacewalk occurred on September 12, 2024, the third day of their mission, 870 miles above Earth.
“The Perfect World from Up Here”
Standing at the edge of space, Isaacman couldn’t help but marvel at the view of Earth below, saying, “SpaceX, back at home we have a lot of work to do, but from here it looks like a perfect world.” He, along with Sarah Gillis, both ventured outside the Dragon spacecraft through the specialized Skywalker hatch, performing this unprecedented spacewalk. They tested the new EVA suits, designed by SpaceX for flexibility and protection, while capturing stunning views of Earth and space.
Setting New Altitude Records
The mission itself began with a launch from NASA’s historic Launch Complex-39A on September 10. Fifteen hours into the journey, Polaris Dawn reached an altitude of 870 miles, the highest for any crewed mission since Apollo. This remarkable altitude surpassed NASA’s Gemini 11, a record that had stood for over five decades.
Testing the Future of Space Exploration
The Polaris Dawn mission wasn’t just about altitude records. One of its core objectives was testing SpaceX’s new extravehicular activity suits, which are anticipated to play a crucial role in future space missions. As Isaacman noted, “It might be 10 iterations from now, but someday, someone could be wearing a version of this suit while walking on Mars.”
In addition, the mission introduced a new laser-based communication system that linked with SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, enhancing data transmission for future space exploration.
Scientific Research in Orbit
During their six-day mission, the Polaris Dawn astronauts are conducting 36 scientific experiments from 31 institutions. These studies aim to gather insights into human health in space, contributing valuable data for future lunar and Martian missions. Some experiments involve monitoring biometric data, mitigating space motion sickness, and examining eye health in microgravity.
This mission has not only broken new ground in private spaceflight but is also contributing to the advancement of human space exploration. For more on this historic mission, visit https://www.space.com/spacex-polaris-dawn-first-private-spacewalk
