The Polaris Dawn mission, the first of three flights purchased by billionaire Jared Isaacman from SpaceX for his human spaceflight effort known as the Polaris Program, is scheduled to launch at the end of this month. Isaacman, who also led the historic Inspiration4 flight in 2021, will once again command the mission, accompanied by three other crew members. The mission is not headed to a specific destination but will instead be a free-flying mission tracing orbits far from Earth.
One of the key highlights of the Polaris Dawn mission is the planned spacewalk, which no private venture has attempted before. Isaacman acknowledges the risks involved in going for a spacewalk, describing the experience as being “surrounded by death.” The crew has undergone extensive training, including simulating the vacuum conditions of space in a vacuum chamber.
The Polaris Dawn mission is expected to last up to five days. On day one, the crew will look for a time with minimal risk from micrometeorite orbital debris to determine the launch time. After reaching a specific orbit, the crew will conduct thorough checks of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule Resilience. The spacecraft will also pass through the high radiation zone known as the South Atlantic Anomaly.
Day two will focus on scientific research, with the crew planning to carry out about 40 experiments. They will also test the extravehicular activity (EVA) suits in microgravity to ensure they function properly. Day three is the day of the spacewalk, with Isaacman and Gillis venturing outside the Dragon capsule while Poteet and Menon provide support from inside.
The spacewalk is expected to last two hours and will serve as a test and development process for the EVA suits. The crew aims to learn as much as possible about the suits and their operation. Polaris Dawn plans to livestream the spacewalk with multiple cameras both inside and outside the capsule.
The success of the spacewalk depends on SpaceX’s spacesuits, which have undergone extensive testing to ensure their reliability. The company has invested significant time and effort into developing the suits, with the goal of creating a new generation of spacesuits for future missions to the moon, Mars, and low Earth orbit.
Overall, the Polaris Dawn mission represents a milestone in private spaceflight, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved. Jared Isaacman hopes that the mission will inspire others and spark curiosity about the future of space exploration.
