In the coming days, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, will host an unprecedented space mission. Known as Polaris Dawn, this groundbreaking mission will see a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch a Crew Dragon capsule carrying four private astronauts on a five-day orbit. This mission represents a significant leap forward in private space exploration, following the Inspiration4 mission from 2021, which was also supported by billionaire Jared Isaacman, CEO of Shift4.
Unlike previous missions, Polaris Dawn will attempt the first spacewalk conducted by private astronauts, utilizing spacesuit technology developed by SpaceX. The crew will also test laser-based communications in collaboration with Starlink, aiming to advance technology for future interplanetary travel, including missions to Mars. Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, is overseen by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
The mission is not without its risks. The crew will venture into the highest orbit ever attempted, exposing them to significant radiation and potential hazards from space debris.
When is the Polaris Dawn mission scheduled to launch? After several postponements last week, the mission is now set for Friday, September 6, as per the Kennedy Space Center’s schedule. Initial launch attempts were delayed due to a helium leak and adverse weather conditions. Isaacman has indicated that the launch team will continue to monitor conditions daily to ensure safety. SpaceX has also emphasized that the mission’s safety is a priority, given the unprecedented distance and the high-risk nature of the first commercial spacewalk.
To follow the Polaris Dawn mission, you can access updates and live coverage through the mission’s official website, as well as on social media platforms like X, Instagram, and Flickr.
The crew for this historic mission includes:
- Jared Isaacman, the mission commander and CEO of Shift4, who also participated in the Inspiration4 mission.
- Sarah Gillis, a senior operations engineer at SpaceX, who will serve as a mission specialist and perform the spacewalk alongside Isaacman.
- Scott Poteet, a former US Air Force fighter pilot and mission director for Inspiration4, who will assist with communications and spacewalk operations.
- Anna Menon, a lead space operations engineer at SpaceX, responsible for monitoring the crew’s health.
The goals of Polaris Dawn include performing the first private astronaut spacewalk, testing new laser communication technologies with Starlink, and conducting biological and human endurance experiments. The spacecraft will reach an orbit approximately 870 miles above Earth, surpassing the Gemini XI mission’s altitude record of 853 miles set in 1966. This mission marks the first of three planned missions, with subsequent ones scheduled to use SpaceX’s new Starship rocket.
