SpaceX’s private mission Polaris Dawn made history on September 12, 2024, by conducting the world’s first commercial spacewalk. This milestone occurred during the crew’s five-day journey in Earth’s orbit, marking a new era in private space exploration.
Jared Isaacman Leads Historic Mission
The mission is led by American billionaire Jared Isaacman, who financed the entire venture. During the spacewalk, Isaacman stood partially outside SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, gazing down at Earth from an incredible altitude. “SpaceX, back at home we have a lot of work to do, but from here it looks like a perfect world,” Isaacman remarked as he floated in the vacuum of space.
Isaacman was joined by pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet and mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, all members of SpaceX’s private astronaut program. They launched from the historic Launch Complex-39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center—the same site used for the iconic Apollo 11 mission.
Record-Breaking Altitude and First Spacewalk
Just 15 hours after launch, the crew reached an altitude of 870 miles (1,400 km), breaking the altitude record for crewed missions in Earth’s orbit, previously held by NASA’s Gemini 11. After achieving this, the crew brought the Dragon spacecraft to 458 miles (737 km), where Isaacman and Gillis performed their extravehicular activity (EVA), stepping into space at approximately 6:12 a.m. EDT.
Cutting-Edge Spacesuits and Communication Technology
The astronauts wore newly designed SpaceX EVA suits, offering lightweight flexibility while maintaining protection from space’s harsh conditions. This mission served as a crucial test for these suits, which could eventually be used in missions to Mars. As Isaacman mentioned, “It might be 10 iterations from now, but someone could be wearing a version of this suit on Mars.”
Moreover, Polaris Dawn tested SpaceX’s new communication system that uses lasers to connect with Starlink satellites. This technology could revolutionize space communication, paving the way for future missions beyond Earth’s orbit.
Scientific Contributions and Return
During the mission, the crew conducted 36 scientific experiments from 31 institutions, focusing on the effects of spaceflight on the human body. The results will contribute to NASA’s efforts in planning deep space missions, including future expeditions to the moon and Mars. These experiments also included tests on wearable health-monitoring devices and the effects of radiation encountered in the Van Allen belts.
Polaris Dawn is set to conclude its mission with a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean, completing one of the most ambitious private space missions to date.
Read more about the mission here.
