SpaceX To Launch Polaris Dawn, Crew Prepares for First-Ever Private Spacewalk
SpaceX to launch Polaris Dawn, a crew of four private astronauts is in the final stages of preparation for a daring SpaceX mission. The mission, scheduled to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, aims to attempt the first private spacewalk. This mission will use SpaceX’s new spacesuits and a redesigned spacecraft.
A Diverse Crew for a Risky Mission
The crew consists of a billionaire entrepreneur, a retired military pilot, and two SpaceX engineers. They will launch aboard the Crew Dragon capsule at 3:38 a.m. ET (0738 GMT). This is the fifth private mission for SpaceX, but it’s considered the riskiest so far.
Last month’s attempt to launch was postponed due to a helium leak in ground equipment. SpaceX fixed the issue, but a Falcon 9 booster recovery failure during an unrelated mission caused further delays. Now that US regulators have cleared Falcon 9 for flight, the Polaris Dawn mission is set for a pre-dawn launch. However, only a 40% chance of favourable weather is forecasted.
SpaceX has two backup launch windows later on the same day, at 5:23 a.m. and 7:09 a.m. if needed.
Historic Spacewalk and Mission Details
Polaris Dawn will last five days and take the crew to an orbit that ranges between 190 km and 1,400 km from Earth. On the third day, at an altitude of 700 km, two crew members will perform a 20-minute spacewalk. The Crew Dragon capsule will depressurise, and all four astronauts will rely on their SpaceX-built spacesuits for oxygen. Unlike the ISS, Crew Dragon lacks an airlock, requiring the entire cabin to depressurise for the spacewalk.
Only highly trained government astronauts have previously conducted spacewalks. This mission will mark the first time commercial astronauts attempt one. Elon Musk, SpaceX’s CEO, noted the increased risk but emphasised that safety is a top priority.
Crew and Future Missions
Jared Isaacman, the 41-year-old founder of Shift4 Payments, is leading the mission. He previously financed SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission in 2021. Isaacman is joined by retired Air Force pilot Scott Poteet and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon.
The spacewalk will involve Isaacman and Gillis leaving the capsule tethered by an oxygen line, while Poteet and Menon remain inside. This mission is the first in Isaacman’s Polaris program, which includes future Crew Dragon missions and a planned flight on SpaceX’s Starship.
In addition to the spacewalk, the crew will participate in scientific experiments to study how cosmic radiation and the vacuum of space impact the human body. These studies will build on decades of research conducted aboard the ISS.
SpaceX’s Role in US Spaceflight
Since NASA retired the Space Shuttle in 2011, SpaceX has played a critical role in transporting astronauts. Its Crew Dragon has completed nine missions to the ISS for NASA, making it the only US crew-rated spacecraft currently in operation. SpaceX has also flown four private missions, including Isaacman’s Inspiration4 and three Axiom Space-arranged flights.
Boeing is developing a rival spacecraft, Starliner, but has faced setbacks. Its latest NASA test mission was delayed when propulsion system issues left astronauts on the ISS.
