The Polaris Dawn mission, led by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, is set to make history with the first-ever spacewalk conducted by non-government astronauts. A SpaceX Dragon capsule, carrying Isaacman and his all-civilian crew, launched early Tuesday atop a Falcon 9 rocket. The spacecraft will ascend to 870 miles above Earth's surface, reaching heights not seen by humans since the Apollo lunar missions, before settling into a cruising orbit approximately 435 miles above Earth.
Isaacman, who previously spearheaded the Inspiration4 mission—the first all-civilian spaceflight—has funded this ambitious endeavor in collaboration with SpaceX. The mission, initially delayed three times due to weather and technical issues, also benefited from a custom-designed spacesuit created by SpaceX for the Polaris Dawn crew. The launch had been pushed back due to poor weather forecasts, preflight check delays, and a helium leak, but the Falcon 9 rocket was cleared to proceed after brief grounding by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The launch took place from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:23 a.m. EDT, with spectators lining the coast to witness the event. The Falcon 9's first-stage booster detached and landed on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, while the Dragon capsule separated from the rocket’s upper stage and powered on for its journey. The crew will travel through Earth's Van Allen radiation belts, reaching altitudes higher than any human has since the 1970s.
During their five days in orbit, the crew will conduct around 40 scientific experiments and test SpaceX's new laser-based satellite communication system. The mission's highlight will be the spacewalk on the third day, where Isaacman and mission specialist Sarah Gillis will exit the Dragon capsule. Unlike previous spacewalks, which took place in spacecraft with airlocks, the Dragon lacks this feature. As a result, the entire spacecraft will need to be depressurized for the maneuver, exposing the crew to the vacuum of space. SpaceX’s specially designed Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) suits will be used to provide oxygen through tethers.
Isaacman, along with pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet and mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, who is also the medical officer, will use this mission to pave the way for future deep space exploration. Poteet, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, and Gillis, who trained the Inspiration4 astronauts, are joined by Menon, who will also read her children's book "Kisses from Space" to her kids during the mission.
The Polaris Dawn mission is the first of three planned under the Polaris Program, aimed at advancing SpaceX technologies for deep space travel. The second mission will focus on extending human spaceflight capabilities and in-space communications, with details and a launch date to be announced. The final mission will utilize the SpaceX Starship rocket, which is expected to transport NASA astronauts as part of the Artemis program by 2026.
