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9/12/2024, 9:16:42 PM
On September 10, SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission successfully launched American billionaire Jared Isaacman and three others into orbit for a five-day mission to attempt the first-ever private spacewalk in history, despite challenging weather conditions at 5:23 a.m. EDT (0923 UTC).
Isaacman personally funded the second SpaceX Polaris Programme mission, marking the first of three spaceflights, launched on a Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule named “Resilience.”
Additionally, US Air Force Lt. Col. Scott "Kidd" Poteet pilots the mission under Isaacman's direction. As a mission specialist, Sarah Gillis is SpaceX's lead space operations engineer for astronaut training, and as a medical officer, Anna Menon is SpaceX's lead operations engineer for crew operations development.
SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn mission has set a new record. The Dragon Capsule Resilience reached the highest orbital altitude of the flight, reaching 870 miles (1,400.7 kilometres) on Tuesday, September 10.
This is the farthest from Earth humans have flown since NASA's Apollo 17 mission in 1972 and the highest Earth orbit by a crewed spacecraft since 1966. On day one of the mission, the crew is preparing for a historic first private spacewalk on September 12.
Polaris Dawn is set to embark on its historic spacewalk on September 12 at 2:23 a.m. ET, marking the first by private astronauts Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis.
The four crew members will exit their Crew Dragon spacecraft in specially-designed SpaceX spacesuits, using a procedure that involves breathing in specific gas mixtures, usually pure oxygen, to reduce decompression sickness risks.
The Polaris Dawn crew's Dragon spacecraft has separated from its Falcon 9 second stage, and the crew is now in orbit. The mission's billionaire commander, Jared Isaacman, expressed gratitude to the 14,000 people back home and others for their support, stating they are ready to work now.
Polaris Dawn will showcase Starlink internet on their Dragon capsule, conduct Earth-based experiments, and raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's paediatric cancer treatment research. Anna Menon, SpaceX's lead operations engineer, is expected to read her children's book “Kisses from Space” as part of the fundraiser.
Here is a daily summary of the Polaris Dawn mission:
On Day 1: Astronauts launch and pass through Earth's Van Allen radiation belt, reaching 1,400 km (870 miles) above the surface, the highest altitude reached since Apollo 17, the final moon mission in 1972.
On Day 2: Depart for a 700-kilometer (435-mile) cruising orbit and get ready for a spacewalk during a suitable "mobility demo."
On Day 3: Put on the spacesuits, check for leaks, and go on the spacewalk.
On Day 4: Evaluate a communication system based on lasers, Starlink.
On Day 5: Get ready for atmospheric reentry on day five.
On Day 6: Take off again, landing at one of seven locations in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida.
The Polaris Dawn mission marks a significant leap in private space exploration, with its crew, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, pushing the boundaries of human achievement in orbit. From record-breaking altitudes to pioneering private spacewalks, the mission showcases the growing role of private ventures in advancing space exploration, all while supporting vital causes like pediatric cancer research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. As the mission progresses, it sets a new precedent for future private space endeavors and collaborations.
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