The forthcoming SpaceX-operated Polaris Dawn mission is charting new territory in private space travel, with a planned launch date of tomorrow. This five-day mission is setting its sights on conducting the first commercial spacewalk and will fly higher than any other human since the Apollo program, potentially expanding our understanding of deep space travel, as the Houston Chronicle reports.
Four private astronauts, including mission commander and billionaire Jared Isaacman, are set to embark from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on a journey that will not only attempt a pioneering untethered spacewalk but will also aim at surpassing the altitude record set by the 1966 Gemini 11 mission. This mission is anticipated to take the crew through the Van Allen radiation belts and reach an apex of about 870 miles from Earth, CNN detailed. The historic spacewalk, involving specialized EVA suits developed by SpaceX, is a significant step towards Mars and lunar exploration, with Isaacman and Scott "Kidd" Poteet stepping outside the spacecraft for approximately 20 minutes if all goes according to plan.
Isaacman's companions include SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, both bringing extensive experience in space operations and engineering. Gillis, known for training astronauts and contributing significantly to the Crew Dragon capsule's operations, shared her excitement to witness and contribute to the mission's objectives. Meanwhile, Menon, with a NASA background, prepares to serve as mission specialist and medical officer, potentially dealing with space adaptation syndrome among the crew. She also plans to engage a younger audience by reading her children's book from space as part of a fundraiser, highlighting her multifaceted role in this mission.
The Polaris Dawn crew is not only testing the boundaries of exploration but also focusing on essential health research to increase our understanding of the effects of space on the human body. With roughly 40 science experiments aligned for the mission duration, including leveraging insights into space adaptation syndrome, the crew is laying the groundwork for the future of human spaceflight. Isaacman stated in a CNN interview, “It’s set out (to) have ambitious objectives. So, you assemble the best crew you could for it.” After cresting the apex of their orbit and conducting their research, the crew will brace for a fiery reentry before hopefully splashing down safely in the ocean.
