PressSplit
The crew of the “Polaris Dawn” mission consists of four people: Jared Isaacman, Anna Menon, Sarah Gillis and Scott Poteet (from left). © IMAGO/Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY
An ambitious SpaceX mission will test new spacesuits in space and fly higher than ever before. An insight into the “Polaris Dawn” mission.
Update from August 27, 7.35 am: The team has to investigate a “ground-side helium leak” on a supply line in more detail. As a result, the launch of the “Polaris Dawn” mission has been postponed for the time being. The company reports on X: “The next launch opportunity is Wednesday, August 28th at the earliest.” The time for the next launch attempt remains the same: the SpaceX rocket with the four people on board is scheduled to take off tomorrow (August 28th) at 9:38 a.m.
Original text from August 27, 7:04 a.m.: Cape Canaveral – It’s been some time since SpaceX first dared to do it: In September 2021, billionaire Elon Musk’s space company sent a crew of amateurs into space alone for the first time. The four people, whose trip was financed by billionaire Jared Isaacman and was intended to raise funds for research into childhood cancer, orbited the Earth for several days in September 2021.
Now SpaceX’s second flight, which will only involve private astronauts, is taking off – again with Isaacman at the helm. The billionaire has chartered three space flights from SpaceX to carry out his “Polaris Program”. “Polaris” is intended to “rapidly improve the capabilities of manned spaceflight,” according to the project’s website.
SpaceX tests equipment for extravehicular activities in space
For the first flight, which is scheduled to launch on August 27 at 9:38 a.m. (CEST) on board a SpaceX “Falcon 9” rocket, Isaacman’s crew has set itself an important task: Among other things, they will test spacesuits that SpaceX has developed for extravehicular activities. This is to take place at an altitude of about 700 kilometers above the earth – two of the astronauts will get out of the space capsule one after the other and test the suits, according to the plan.
Commercial space travel continues to develop
SpaceX initially transported cargo to the ISS for NASA, and later also NASA astronauts. SpaceX also uses the company’s own rockets to launch private and government satellites into space. SpaceX now also transports space tourists to the ISS and lets private astronauts fly into Earth’s orbit alone. In the future, other – previously purely government – tasks could also be added.
Until now, extravehicular activities in space have only been carried out by astronauts employed by space agencies. SpaceX wants to change that. And equipment is also an issue: SpaceX could soon have the right material for “spacewalks” – another topic that has so far been the preserve of space agencies.
“Polaris Dawn” to conduct experiments on space radiation and health
In addition, the “Crew Dragon” capsule, in which the crew will launch into space, will fly higher above the Earth than has been done since the “Apollo” missions. During the “Polaris Dawn” mission, which will last several days, the space capsule with the crew will also fly through the Van Allen radiation belt that surrounds the Earth. Experiments will be carried out there on space flights, space radiation and human health. A total of 36 experiments are planned.
The “Polaris Dawn” crew will orbit the Earth in a “Crew Dragon” space capsule from SpaceX. The first private “spacewalk” is also planned. (Archive image) © IMAGO/Nasa
In addition to billionaire Isaacman, the crew includes former Air Force pilot Scott Poteet and two SpaceX employees, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. “Polaris Dawn” is the first flight into space in which SpaceX employees are taking part. Flights 2 and 3 of the “Polaris” program are to build on the upcoming first flight in the coming years. The third flight is also to be the first manned flight of SpaceX’s “Starship” – a spaceship that will help colonize the planet Mars in the future, as SpaceX founder Elon Musk always emphasizes. (tab)
