SpaceX is on the verge of embarking on its groundbreaking Polaris Dawn mission, which will see four astronauts traveling into orbit aboard the Crew Dragon capsule. This five-day expedition will include the first spacewalk ever conducted by private astronauts, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
The Polaris Dawn mission is funded by billionaire and private astronaut Jared Isaacman, who will be joined by three other members on this journey. These include retired US Air Force fighter pilot Scott Poteet, as well as SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. Isaacman and Gillis will be the ones performing the spacewalk, which is scheduled to take place around 430 miles above Earth.
Upon reaching orbit, the crew will ascend to a maximum altitude of approximately 870 miles, marking one of the furthest distances traveled by astronauts since the Apollo missions. As part of the mission, the astronauts will traverse the Van Allen belts, which are two radiation bands consisting of high-energy particles originating from the Sun and cosmic rays.
Apart from the spacewalk, the crew will also be testing SpaceX’s extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits. These suits are equipped with new materials to enhance mobility, along with a 3D-printed helmet featuring a heads-up display and glare-mitigating visor. The upgraded suits will be worn by all crew members during the spacewalk, as the Crew Dragon lacks an airlock, leaving the astronauts exposed to the vacuum of space.
During the spacewalk, Isaacman and Gillis will conduct tests with the new spacesuits to evaluate their performance. Since the capsule will pass through the Van Allen radiation belts, the mission will contribute valuable research on the effects of space radiation on the human body. Additionally, the crew will test Starlink’s satellite internet technology for communication with Earth and conduct research on decompression sickness and Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome.
The Polaris Dawn mission is scheduled to take off on Tuesday, August 27th, with SpaceX aiming for a 3:38AM ET launch time. In case of any delays, SpaceX has set two additional launch times at 5:23AM ET and 7:09AM ET. The Crew Dragon capsule will be launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Those interested can watch a livestream of the mission on SpaceX’s website and X page, with coverage beginning around 12:05AM ET. The spacewalk, scheduled for the third day of the mission, will also be livestreamed for viewers to witness this historic event.
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