In a historic leap for commercial spaceflight, the SpaceX-Polaris crew is preparing to execute the first private spacewalk from orbit this Thursday. This groundbreaking mission, known as Polaris Dawn, aims to test a new line of SpaceX-developed spacesuits under the extreme conditions of space.
The diverse team launched from Florida on Tuesday aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon, embarking on what is hailed as the company’s most ambitious mission to date. The crew consists of Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and founder of Shift4; Scott Poteet, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel; and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon.
Scheduled to begin at 2:23 a.m. ET (0623 GMT) while orbiting at an altitude of 700 km, the spacewalk will see Isaacman and Gillis venture outside the depressurized Crew Dragon capsule, tethered by an oxygen line. Meanwhile, Poteet and Menon will remain inside, relying on the innovative, slimmed-down spacesuits for their oxygen supply.
This mission not only marks a significant milestone in private space exploration but also sets the stage for vital scientific research. The Polaris crew will contribute to understanding how the human body responds to deep space environments, building on decades of studies conducted by government astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The Polaris Dawn mission comes at a time when commercial space ventures are gaining momentum. Since 2021, SpaceX's Crew Dragon has been pivotal in transporting astronauts to and from the ISS, successfully completing over a dozen missions. In contrast, Boeing's Starliner capsule, developed under the same NASA program, has faced challenges, including a recent test mission that returned the capsule empty.
Jared Isaacman, who also funded the Inspiration4 mission in 2021, is backing this latest endeavor, highlighting the increasing role of private investment in space exploration. While the exact cost of the Polaris Dawn mission remains undisclosed, estimates suggest expenditures in the hundreds of millions, reflecting the high stakes and ambitious goals of private space initiatives.
As SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in commercial spaceflight, the Polaris Dawn mission stands as a testament to human ingenuity and the growing collaboration between private enterprises and space exploration.
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SpaceX-Polaris crew poised to attempt first private spacewalk
cgtn.com
