SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission accomplished the first-ever private spacewalk on September 12, 2024. The event, which took place during the third day of the mission, marked a significant milestone in commercial space exploration as a crew of private astronauts ventured outside the Dragon spacecraft while orbiting Earth.
“A Perfect World from Up Here”
Jared Isaacman, the billionaire entrepreneur and Polaris Dawn mission commander, led the spacewalk and shared his awe at the view of Earth from space. “SpaceX, back at home we have a lot of work to do, but from here it looks like a perfect world,” he said while partially standing outside the spacecraft’s hatch.
Isaacman, alongside mission specialist Sarah Gillis, became the first private astronauts to step into the vastness of space. The crew had launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center two days earlier on September 10, aboard the Falcon 9 rocket. Their journey began at Launch Complex-39A, the same site that hosted the historic Apollo 11 mission to the moon.
Breaking Altitude Records and Testing New Technology
The Polaris Dawn mission set a new record by reaching an altitude of 870 miles (1,400.7 kilometers), surpassing all human spaceflights since the Apollo era. This altitude, previously held by NASA’s Gemini 11 at 853 miles (1,373 kilometers), highlighted SpaceX’s evolving capabilities in space exploration.
Once at 458 miles (737 kilometers) above Earth, the crew depressurized their Dragon Resilience spacecraft, and Isaacman was the first to step out into space at 6:48 a.m. EDT, followed by Gillis shortly after. The spacewalk, which lasted 1 hour and 46 minutes, tested the durability of SpaceX’s new lightweight extravehicular activity (EVA) suits. These specially designed suits are a glimpse of the future, potentially paving the way for human missions to Mars.
Pioneering New Frontiers in Space Communication
Polaris Dawn also demonstrated new technology beyond the spacewalk. The mission tested laser-based communication systems, linking to SpaceX’s Starlink satellites to provide uninterrupted communication. This could open doors for future missions involving Starships, telescopes, and more distant spacecraft.
As the mission progresses, the crew of four—Isaacman, Gillis, pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet, and mission specialist Anna Menon—are conducting numerous scientific experiments. These include tests to understand the effects of space radiation and microgravity on the human body, contributing valuable data for future lunar and Martian expeditions.
The Future of Private Space Exploration
Polaris Dawn, set to splash down on Earth after a six-day journey, signifies a bold step in the commercialization of space travel. With each successful mission, the boundary between government and private space exploration blurs, bringing humankind closer to a multi-planetary future.
Read more about this groundbreaking mission on Space.com.