SpaceX's Polaris Dawn set to break records with first private spacewalk
SpaceX is ready for the historic launch of the Polaris Dawn mission, which will include a four-person crew of astronauts. The mission, after numerous delays, is scheduled for Tuesday, September 10, 2024. It will not only set a new distance record from our planet but also feature the first private spacewalk in history!
3:19 PM EDT, September 10, 2024
The Polaris Dawn mission aims to reach over 870 miles above Earth, more than twice the average orbit of the International Space Station. The mission also plans to conduct a series of 36 scientific experiments.
These experiments will study the effects of space on the human body, attempt to image astronauts' brains using magnetic resonance imaging, explore taking X-ray pictures without a camera by utilizing natural streams of radiation in space, and test communication based on Starlink laser links.
Led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, who commanded the first all-civilian spaceflight, Inspiration4, in 2021, the mission is set to launch from the Kennedy Space Center at NASA in Florida.
First private spacewalk in history
SpaceX reported on social media that the launch has been rescheduled to 11:23 AM Eastern Time when the next window opens due to unfavorable weather. Originally, it was supposed to launch at 9:38 AM.
The mission is planned to last five days. One of its key elements is scheduled for the third day when the first commercial spacewalk in history will take place, at an altitude of approximately 435 miles above Earth.
The crew, which includes SpaceX space operations engineer Sarah Gillis and space medicine physician Anna Menon, will test a new design of improved SpaceX spacesuits. Their training included parachute jumps, centrifuge training, medical preparations, and simulations.
Polaris Dawn is the first of three planned missions of the Polaris Program. It aims to rapidly develop human capabilities in space while supporting important goals on Earth. The mission combines space exploration with caring for the future on Earth.
As reported by ScienceAlert, the Polaris Dawn mission may soon write a new chapter in the history of space exploration, proving how private pioneering ventures can lead to scientific progress and significant discoveries.
