Common People to Experience Spacewalk: Polaris Dawn Mission Ready to Launch
Pune, 6th July 2024: For the first time, ordinary citizens will have the chance to embark on a spacewalk as part of the Polaris Dawn mission. The mission, spearheaded by billionaire Jared Isaacman under the Polaris Program, is set to launch on July 31. While the formal announcement from SpaceX is still pending, this groundbreaking mission will feature a crew of four, including Isaacman, who previously commanded the Inspiration4 mission in 2021. The Polaris Dawn mission aims to advance space tourism by integrating commercial spaceflight with a spacewalk.
The Polaris Dawn mission will mark a significant milestone in commercial space travel, offering the first-ever spacewalk opportunity to non-professional astronauts. Jared Isaacman, founder of Shift4, purchased three space flights from SpaceX, designating this series as the Polaris Program. He stated, “Our goal is to push the boundaries of space exploration and make space more accessible to everyone.”
Testing SpaceX’s Spacesuit in Orbit
One of the mission’s key objectives includes testing SpaceX’s newly designed spacesuit during a spacewalk 700 kilometers above Earth. This test is crucial for the development of future missions. The spacesuit’s performance in such a demanding environment will provide valuable data and insights for SpaceX engineers.
Crew to Spend Five Days in Orbit
The Polaris Dawn crew, consisting of Jared Isaacman, pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet, SpaceX astronaut training program overseer Sarah Gillis, and medical officer Anna Menon, will spend five days in orbit. This mission not only signifies a step forward in space tourism but also emphasizes the importance of commercial collaborations in advancing human space exploration.
Isaacman expressed his excitement about the mission, saying, “Polaris Dawn is not just a mission but a stepping stone towards making space accessible to all. We are looking forward to exploring new possibilities and setting new records.”
The successful completion of the Polaris Dawn mission could pave the way for more inclusive space missions, ultimately making space travel a reality for many more people in the future.
