What Is Polaris Dawn? THIS Tech Billionaire Is Set To Do The First Private Spacewalk

The first-ever private spacewalk is planned for Thursday (September 12), halfway through the five-day mission.

Polaris Dawn Mission commenced on September 10 with THIS tech billionaire onboard.

Source : X/@NASA_Johnson

SpaceX owner Elon Musk, along with a tech billionaire, has launched the Polaris Dawn Mission, which aims to achieve several significant milestones in commercial space exploration. The Polaris Dawn Mission is the inaugural mission of the Polaris Program, a series of three planned missions funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman. During the course of this mission, Jared Isaacman, will be conducting the first ever private spacewalk. 

Isaacman, accompanied by two SpaceX engineers and a former Air Force Thunderbirds pilot, took off from Florida, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on September 10. The spacewalk is planned for Thursday, halfway through their five-day mission.

Orbiting Earth on board Dragon, the Polaris Dawn crew talked with families of @FoldsofHonor, an organization providing educational scholarships to spouses and children of America's fallen and disabled military service-members and first responders 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/1lY7Tz2ssd

— Polaris (@PolarisProgram) September 11, 2024

Before we dive deep into the Polaris Dawn Mission, let us first understand what a spacewalk is. 

Spacewalk Explained

A spacewalk, or Extravehicular Activity (EVA), occurs when an astronaut exits their spacecraft to work in the vacuum of space. In this microgravity environment, astronauts float freely, experiencing near weightlessness.

They wear specialised suits known as Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs), which provide vital life support like oxygen, temperature regulation, and protection from extreme space conditions, including intense temperatures and radiation.

Spacewalks are typically carried out to perform repairs, install new equipment, or conduct scientific experiments on the exterior of spacecraft or space stations. Astronauts must remain securely tethered to the spacecraft to avoid drifting in the microgravity environment.

What Is Polaris Dawn & Who All Are A Part Of It

Polaris Dawn, the first mission of the Polaris Program funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, aims to achieve key milestones in commercial space exploration. Initially scheduled for August 28, 2024, the launch was delayed due to a helium leak and later postponed due to unfavorable weather in Florida. On September 10, 2024, the mission successfully launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, sending Jared Isaacman and three crewmembers into orbit to attempt the world's first private spacewalk.

The Polaris Dawn crew consists of four members in total, namely - Jared Issacman, Scott "Kidd" Poteet, Sarah Gillis, and Anna Menon.

• Jared Isaacman: The mission commander and the founder of Shift4 Payments and previously led the Inspiration4 mission. He is also the primary financial backer of the Polaris Program.
• Scott "Kidd" Poteet: A retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel and seasoned pilot, with vast flying experience, has closely collaborated with Isaacman on various projects.
• Sarah Gillis: A lead space operations engineer at SpaceX. She is responsible for astronaut training and has a background in mission control operations.
• Anna Menon: A lead space operations engineer at SpaceX. Has a background in biomedical engineering and has worked with NASA on the International Space Station.

Polaris Dawn Mission Objectives

• To Conduct The First Ever Spacewalk: Polaris Dawn is poised to carry out the first commercial spacewalk using SpaceX-designed spacesuits, representing a major leap forward in the capabilities of private space exploration.
• Reaching New Heights: The mission will send the crew to about 700 kilometers above Earth, entering the inner Van Allen radiation belts—an altitude that hasn’t been reached by humans since the Apollo missions of the 1970s.
• Scientific Research & Advancements: The mission will carry out a range of scientific experiments centered on human health and performance in space, including testing telemedicine technologies and collecting crucial health data for upcoming extended missions to the Moon and Mars. This effort includes partnerships with organisations such as NASA's Human Research Program and the Translational Research Institute for Space Health.
• Testing New Tech: Polaris Dawn will also evaluate Starlink's laser-based communication technology in space, potentially improving future communication systems for deep space missions.