On Thursday, September 12, the world will witness history as the four-member crew of SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission attempts the first-ever private, or commercial, spacewalk. This daring endeavor marks a significant milestone in the evolution of private space exploration, pushing the boundaries of what is possible beyond Earth.
The mission, dubbed the riskiest yet for Elon Musk’s SpaceX, will see two astronauts, Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis, venture outside the Crew Dragon spacecraft while the other two remain inside. This groundbreaking event will be a test of a new line of spacesuits developed by SpaceX, setting the stage for future long-duration missions to destinations like the Moon and Mars.
The spacewalk, scheduled to begin around 12 pm IST at an altitude of 700 km, will last approximately two hours. Isaacman and Gillis will take turns venturing outside the spacecraft, with each spending 15 to 20 minutes in the vacuum of space.
The event can be viewed live via SpaceX, with coverage starting around 1:20 am EDT (0520 GMT). The mission itself launched on September 10 from Florida, carrying a crew of four private astronauts: Jared Isaacman, Scott “Kidd” Poteet, Sarah Gillis, and Anna Menon.
The primary objective of this historic spacewalk is to test the new SpaceX Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suit, an upgraded version of the current intravehicular (IVA) suit. This mission is a crucial step towards developing a scalable design for spacesuits that can withstand the harsh conditions of space for extended periods.
The Polaris Dawn mission also marks the first time humans have traveled this far from Earth since the last Apollo mission in 1972. This achievement has been made possible by the Crew Dragon spacecraft, the only US vehicle capable of reliably putting humans in orbit and returning them to Earth.
In addition to testing new spacesuits, the Polaris Dawn mission is also utilizing Starlink laser-based communications for the first time. This technology allows the crew to communicate with Starlink satellites throughout the mission, demonstrating the potential for reliable, high-bandwidth communication in space.
The mission is a testament to the rapid advancements in private space exploration, and it is expected to inspire future generations to reach for the stars.
With the Polaris Dawn crew set to make history with the first-ever commercial spacewalk, the world is watching with anticipation as they push the boundaries of human spaceflight and pave the way for a future where private citizens can explore the cosmos.
