SpaceX Prepares for First Private Spacewalk in Landmark Mission
Innovative Equipment and High Stakes Define SpaceX’s Next Venture
SpaceX is set to undertake one of its most daring missions yet, featuring the first-ever private spacewalk. Scheduled for next week, this mission will push the boundaries of space exploration with cutting-edge equipment, including lightweight spacesuits and a modified Crew Dragon capsule lacking a traditional airlock.
Trailblazing Crew and Mission Details at SpaceX
The mission, named Polaris Dawn, is spearheaded by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who also financed the mission. Joining him are mission pilot Scott Poteet, a retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel, and two SpaceX engineers, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. The crew is scheduled to launch on Tuesday, August 27, aboard a specially modified Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Two days later, they will perform a 20-minute spacewalk at an altitude of 434 miles (700 km) above Earth, marking a new milestone in private space travel. This is significantly higher than the International Space Station (ISS), where government astronauts typically conduct spacewalks.
SpaceX Pioneering New Frontiers in Space
Polaris Dawn’s five-day mission will see the spacecraft orbiting Earth in an elliptical path, ranging from as close as 118 miles (190 km) to as far as 870 miles (1,400 km) from the planet’s surface. This will be the furthest humans have ventured from Earth since NASA’s Apollo programme ended in 1972.
The mission is a significant test for SpaceX, which aims to develop technologies that could one day be used for lunar and Martian exploration. One of the critical challenges will be the exposure of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and its systems to the intense radiation of the Van Allen belts, which lie far beyond the protective shield of Earth’s atmosphere. This region, filled with charged particles, poses a potential risk to both electronics and human health.
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Safety Measures and Unique Challenges
During the spacewalk, the Crew Dragon’s entire cabin will be depressurised, exposing it to the vacuum of space. Only two astronauts will exit the spacecraft, tethered by oxygen lines, while the others will remain inside, relying entirely on their spacesuits for life support.
In preparation for this spacewalk, the crew will undergo a “pre-breathe” process, where the cabin atmosphere will be replaced with pure oxygen to eliminate nitrogen. This step is crucial to prevent decompression sickness, commonly known as “the bends,” which can occur if nitrogen bubbles form in the bloodstream.
The mission will also serve as a platform for various scientific experiments, including the use of an ultrasound device to detect nitrogen bubbles in the blood. These experiments will offer valuable insights into how astronauts might cope with conditions on the Moon or other deep space missions.
Uncharted Territory for Private Space Missions
While NASA rigorously oversees astronaut safety on its missions, no equivalent standards or regulations exist for private missions like Polaris Dawn. SpaceX and the Polaris crew have planned for multiple contingencies, including scenarios like oxygen leaks or hatch door failures. However, they have not disclosed specific details about these safety measures.
As SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, the success of Polaris Dawn could pave the way for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
