The Polaris Dawn mission, the first of its three planned human spaceflight missions, is scheduled for launch in mid-2024. This groundbreaking endeavor will mark a significant milestone in space exploration, particularly for commercial human spaceflight.
One of the most notable highlights of the Polaris Dawn mission will be the introduction of the newly developed Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suit, which will be crucial for supporting the crew during their historic spacewalk.
This mission, lasting five days, will witness the crew conducting SpaceX’s inaugural Extravehicular Activity (EVA) from the Dragon spacecraft. This will be the first time a commercial astronaut spacewalk has been conducted, and it will also mark the first instance of four astronauts being simultaneously exposed to the vacuum of space.
The EVA suit has undergone significant advancements compared to the current Intra Vehicular Activity (IVA) suit used in Dragon human spaceflight missions. This upgraded suit ensures the crew’s safety and functionality in the challenging vacuum of space.
The EVA suit’s design prioritizes mobility, utilizing innovative materials, construction techniques, and joint designs to provide enhanced flexibility for the astronauts during pressurized situations while maximizing comfort during unpressurized scenarios.
The 3D-printed helmet incorporates a new visor to mitigate glare during the EVA, along with an advanced Heads-Up Display (HUD) and camera that provide critical information about the suit’s pressure, temperature, and relative humidity.
The suit has been meticulously enhanced for improved reliability and redundancy during spacewalks, featuring additional seals and pressure valves to maintain pressurization and ensure the crew’s safety.
The evolution of the EVA suit from the Intra Vehicular Activity (IVA) suit includes substantial improvements in mobility, an advanced helmet with Heads-Up Display (HUD) and camera, new thermal management textiles, and materials adapted from Falcon’s interstage and Dragon’s trunk.
The Polaris Program, a collaborative effort between Jared Isaacman and SpaceX, was launched in February 2022. Its overarching goal is to accelerate human spaceflight capabilities while simultaneously supporting important causes on Earth.
The development of the EVA suit and the execution of the spacewalk are significant steps towards establishing a scalable design for spacesuits. This will be essential for future long-duration missions as humanity ventures beyond Earth’s boundaries.
While the Polaris Dawn mission will mark the first utilization of the EVA suit in low-Earth orbit, its ultimate objective is to facilitate the construction of a lunar base and a Martian city, ambitious endeavors that will require a substantial number of spacesuits.
During the inaugural Polaris Dawn mission, Jared Isaacman will serve as commander and pilot the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft alongside Sarah Gillis, Anna Menon, and Scott Poteet, a carefully chosen crew of experienced astronauts. The second Polaris mission will also utilize a Dragon spacecraft, while the third mission aims to be the maiden crewed flight of SpaceX’s next-generation Starship spacecraft.
As the countdown to the Polaris Dawn mission continues, the world eagerly anticipates this historic endeavor. The advancements in spacesuit technology, the challenges of commercial spacewalks, and the broader implications for future space exploration make this mission a captivating event for space enthusiasts and the general public alike.
