Polaris Dawn crew arrives at SpaceX launch site for billionaire's historic first private spacewalk flight
Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Arrival at Kennedy Space Center
The crew of the Polaris Dawn mission, funded by U.S. billionaire Jared Isaacman, arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on August 19, 2024. They landed in a small squadron of stunt jets owned by Isaacman, marking their arrival with a week to go before their scheduled launch.
Mission Overview
Polaris Dawn is the second privately crewed SpaceX mission under Isaacman’s "Polaris" program, following his 2021 Inspiration4 mission. This mission is notable for attempting the first all-civilian spacewalk and aims to push the boundaries of private spaceflight.
Crew Composition
The crew consists of Jared Isaacman, the mission commander; Scott "Kidd" Poteet, a retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel serving as the mission pilot; and SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, both Lead Space Operations Engineers, serving as mission specialists. This mission marks the first time SpaceX employees will fly on one of the company’s rockets.
Technical Preparations and Delays
The launch, originally planned for 2022, was delayed due to the development of new equipment, including SpaceX’s new EVA suits and a handrail/ladder system for the spacewalk. The team has spent the intervening time engaged in extensive training, including mountain climbing, skydiving, and high-G jet flights.
Confidence in Spacecraft Safety
The mission will be the first crewed launch on a Falcon 9 rocket since a recent malfunction grounded the vehicle. Despite this, the crew expressed full confidence in SpaceX’s response and problem-solving processes, with regular updates provided during the investigation and resolution of the issue.
Mission Objectives
Polaris Dawn will attempt several ambitious objectives, including flying farther from Earth than any human has in over 50 years and testing new technologies like SpaceX’s EVA suits and laser communication with the Starlink satellite network. The mission will also continue to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, building on the success of Inspiration4.
Future of the Polaris Program
Isaacman has outlined plans for at least two more Polaris missions, with the second mission building on the lessons learned from Polaris Dawn. The third mission is planned to be the first crewed flight of SpaceX’s Starship, aiming to further expand private space exploration capabilities.