In a groundbreaking moment for private space exploration, billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman became the first private citizen to conduct a spacewalk during the Polaris Dawn mission. Launched on Tuesday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the five-day mission aims to advance human spaceflight capabilities and raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
1 Jared Isaacman, commander of the Polaris Dawn mission, emerges from SpaceX Dragon capsule during the world’s first commercial space walk. Image Credit : SpaceX
The historic spacewalk, which took place on Thursday, marked a significant milestone in the mission. Isaacman, accompanied by crew member Sarah Gillis, ventured out of the Dragon capsule and performed a series of mobility tests while admiring the stunning view of Earth. The spacewalk was livestreamed to over 2.5 million viewers, providing a glimpse into the vastness of space.
"This is a momentous occasion for private spaceflight," said Isaacman, commander of the Polaris Dawn mission. "We're pushing the boundaries of what's possible and demonstrating the capabilities of commercial spacecraft."
The Polaris Dawn mission has already achieved several historic milestones, including reaching an altitude of 1,400 kilometers, the farthest humans have ventured since the Apollo lunar missions. The crew has also tested new extravehicular activity (EVA) suits designed by SpaceX, which will be crucial
for future missions to the moon and Mars.
Sarah Gillis, a SpaceX engineer, stands halfway outside Polaris Dawn’s Dragon spacecraft during her space walk, which took place over Earth’s night side. Image Credit: SpaceX
The spacewalk was a carefully choreographed event, with the crew members donning the new EVA suits and venturing out of the Dragon capsule. Isaacman and Gillis took turns performing mobility tests and admiring the stunning view of Earth. The mission also demonstrated the capability to conduct spacewalks without an airlock, a critical aspect for future deep space missions.
"This mission is a game-changer for private spaceflight," said Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX. "We're proud to be partnering with Jared and the Polaris Dawn crew to push the boundaries of space exploration."
SPACEWALK BY THE NUMBERS
- 1,400 kilometers: The altitude reached by the Polaris Dawn crew, the farthest humans have ventured since the Apollo lunar missions.
- 2.5 million: The number of viewers who livestreamed the historic spacewalk.
- 5 days: The duration of the Polaris Dawn mission.
- 36: The number of scientific experiments conducted onboard the Dragon capsule.
- 10 minutes: The time spent by each crew member outside the Dragon capsule during the spacewalk.
The Polaris Dawn crew will continue to conduct scientific experiments and test new technologies before returning to Earth on the sixth day of their mission. The findings from this mission will contribute significantly to the advancement of human spaceflight capabilities, paving the way for future missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond.
As the space industry continues to evolve, the Polaris Dawn mission marks a significant step towards a new era of space exploration. Private investment and innovation are driving the next generation of space travel, and missions like Polaris Dawn are leading the way.
Add comment
Comments
private spacewalk...lol. without a shitload of government money not only would there be no polaris dawn, there would be no spaceX
Good luck it's fantastic moment for future space walking 👍✌️🇮🇳