SpaceX's groundbreaking space journey is set to blast off on July 31st
The Polaris Dawn mission, announced on platform X, marks a significant milestone in the space industry. It's the first commercial space mission, funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, and it will be the highest manned flight since the Apollo lunar missions.
The mission, scheduled for launch on July 31, will be conducted using a Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket, both provided by SpaceX. The crew, consisting of four private astronauts, will embark on a 5-day journey. Commander Jared Isaacman, pilot Scott "Kidd" Poteet, and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon will make history as they soar into space aboard a company ship and rocket for the first time.
The highlight of the Polaris Dawn mission is the first-ever commercial spacewalk. Gillis and Menon will conduct this historic spacewalk at an altitude of about 1,400 km (roughly 435 miles) above Earth, far beyond the International Space Station's orbit and traversing the Van Allen radiation belts.
Technical challenges abound in this pioneering mission. Performing a spacewalk from the Crew Dragon capsule, which does not have an airlock, means the entire capsule will be exposed to the vacuum of space during the EVA (extravehicular activity). The crew will also test newly designed state-of-the-art EVA suits that must withstand conditions at this extreme altitude and vacuum exposure.
Communication at high Earth orbit velocities will be facilitated by the first in-space test of Starlink's laser-based communications system, ensuring nearly constant contact with Earth, critical for safety and mission success. Managing radiation exposure through the Van Allen belts, a challenge for human health and instrumentation during the mission's record-high orbit, is another significant hurdle.
Beyond the spacewalk, the mission will perform over 40 medical and scientific experiments aimed at advancing understanding of human health under extreme space conditions. The data and experience from Polaris Dawn will contribute to future commercial spaceflight and plans for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Isaacman, known for commanding and financing the all-civilian launch of Inspiration4 in September 2021, will lead the Polaris Dawn mission. The mission has faced delays due to its complexity, with the latest delay occurring in February 2024, pushing the launch from April to this summer. Despite these challenges, the Polaris Dawn mission is a testament to the rapid evolution of the space industry, paving the way for broader and more diverse participation in space beyond traditional government agencies.
The Polaris Dawn mission is a collaborative effort between the Polaris program and SpaceX, embodying the spirit of innovation and exploration that defines both organisations. This mission will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the future of commercial space travel.
Science and technology will play crucial roles in the Polaris Dawn mission, as Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon prepare to perform the first-ever commercial spacewalk in state-of-the-art EVA suits at an altitude of about 1,400 km above Earth. This groundbreaking research in space-and-astronomy will contribute to future advancements in human health under extreme space conditions, ultimately influencing commercial spaceflight and plans for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
