The crew of Polaris Dawn successfully completed the first commercial spacewalk on Thursday as part of a historic mission led by commander Jared Isaacman. Venting the entire atmosphere of their SpaceX Crew Dragon, Isaacman and crewmate Sarah Gillis spent over 10 minutes outside the spacecraft, connected by a tether. The risky task was completed in less than two hours, with the crew wearing SpaceX’s new extravehicular activity (EVA) suits due to the spacecraft not having an airlock. The event was live-streamed from SpaceX headquarters, showcasing Isaacman’s maneuvers in space with the Earth in the background. The crew became the 264th and 265th people to perform a spacewalk, marking a significant milestone for commercial spaceflight.
Polaris Dawn is part of the Polaris Program, a series of missions led by Isaacman in partnership with SpaceX. Aimed at advancing human space exploration, the program includes plans for a mission using SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy. Throughout the five-day mission, the crew also tested the spacecraft’s capabilities, including flying to a record altitude of 870 miles in low-Earth orbit. The mission included experiments, radiation tests within Earth’s magnetosphere, and a laser communication technology demonstration using Starlink hardware.
The crew is scheduled to return to Earth early Sunday, completing a crucial step towards the future of space exploration. Isaacman’s vision for the Polaris Program is rooted in preparing for future missions to Mars and beyond, emphasizing the need for continued learning and innovation as space travel evolves. This successful spacewalk represents a significant achievement for commercial spaceflight and paves the way for further exploration beyond Earth’s orbit.
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