Polaris Dawn, a groundbreaking private space mission, is scheduled to launch this week, with the Falcon 9 rocket set to lift off on Tuesday, August 27, at 3:38 AM ET. Led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, this mission aims to achieve the first-ever civilian spacewalk.
The mission will see the Polaris Dawn crew venture to a record-breaking altitude of up to 870 miles from Earth, surpassing any human travel since the Apollo era. The spacewalk will occur at an altitude of 435 miles above Earth, with two of the crew members stepping outside the SpaceX Dragon capsule.
The crew of Polaris Dawn includes Jared Isaacman as the commander, retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Scott “Kidd” Poteet as the pilot, and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon as mission specialists. Menon, who will also serve as the medical officer, brings extensive expertise to the mission. The entire mission is expected to last around five days, with the crew engaging in various tasks and experiments during their time in orbit.
Polaris Dawn Mission to Launch August 27, Aims for First Civilian Spacewalk
In preparation for the launch, Polaris Dawn and SpaceX have completed a comprehensive rehearsal of the launch day procedures. This rehearsal was designed to ensure that every aspect of the mission was ready and that the team was well-prepared for the actual launch. The rehearsal also provided a critical opportunity to test and refine the procedures that will be followed during the mission.
A key challenge for the mission is the absence of an airlock in the Dragon capsule, which means that although only two crew members will perform the spacewalk, all four will be exposed to the vacuum of space when the hatch opens.
The mission will serve as a critical test for SpaceX’s new Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suits, which are designed to protect the crew in the harsh environment of space. Anna Menon has expressed confidence in the suits, citing extensive ground testing to ensure their effectiveness.
In addition to the spacewalk, Polaris Dawn will test Starlink’s laser-based communication technology in space and gather valuable data on the effects of spaceflight on human health. This mission represents the first of three planned Polaris spaceflights and has been in development for several years. It aims to advance our understanding of space travel and pave the way for future private space missions.
