Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Credit: Polaris Program
SpaceX is preparing for the Polaris Dawn mission, targeting July 31, 2024, as the earliest possible launch date. This mission marks a significant step in private space exploration.
The Polaris Dawn mission is part of the broader Polaris Program, which aims to advance human spaceflight capabilities and lay the groundwork for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
The mission will launch from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A in Florida. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket will carry the Dragon spacecraft into orbit.
The four-person crew will be led by billionaire Jared Isaacman as Mission Commander. The team will embark on a journey lasting up to five days, with the goal of reaching the highest Earth orbit ever achieved.
One of the mission's key objectives is to conduct the first-ever commercial spacewalk. The crew will use SpaceX-designed extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits, which have been specially upgraded for this mission.
The spacewalk will test new spacesuit technology and contribute valuable data for future long-duration missions, furthering the development of human space exploration.
The crew will also conduct various scientific research activities to advance human health on Earth and in space. Additionally, they will test Starlink laser-based communications in orbit, which could revolutionize space-based communication systems.
Polaris Dawn is the first of three planned missions in the Polaris Program. Each successive mission will build on the achievements of the last, with the ultimate goal of culminating in the first crewed flight of SpaceX's Starship, expanding human presence in space.