SpaceX has once again postponed the launch of the Polaris Dawn mission, an ambitious orbital expedition featuring an all-civilian crew aiming to achieve the first-ever spacewalk by private citizens. The mission, organized by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, was originally scheduled to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a four-hour window early Wednesday. However, SpaceX announced the delay on Tuesday, citing unfavorable weather conditions in the Dragon capsule’s splashdown areas off the coast of Florida.
The decision to postpone came after an earlier attempt on Tuesday was aborted due to a helium leak in a line connecting the tower to the rocket. The SpaceX Dragon capsule, riding atop a Falcon 9 rocket, is set to reach a peak altitude of 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) — the highest altitude achieved by any crewed mission since the Apollo era more than 50 years ago.
Jared Isaacman, the mission commander and founder of the tech company Shift4 Payments, will lead a four-member team on this historic mission. The crew includes mission pilot Scott Poteet, a retired United States Air Force lieutenant colonel; mission specialist Sarah Gillis, a lead space operations engineer at SpaceX; and mission specialist and medical officer Anna Menon, also a lead space operations engineer at SpaceX. The centerpiece of the mission is the first-ever spacewalk by non-professional astronauts. The crew will don newly developed SpaceX extravehicular activity (EVA) suits, which feature heads-up displays, helmet cameras, and advanced joint mobility systems.
The Polaris Dawn mission is the first of three planned missions under the Polaris program, a collaboration between Isaacman and SpaceX. On the first day of the mission, the crew is set to reach the highest altitude, briefly venturing into the Van Allen radiation belt, a region filled with high-energy charged particles that pose potential health risks to humans over extended periods.
The spacewalk is scheduled for the third day of the mission. The crew members will take turns venturing outside the spacecraft in pairs, spending 15 to 20 minutes each in space at an altitude of 435 miles above Earth’s surface. In addition to the spacewalk, the crew will conduct nearly 40 scientific experiments, including tests with contact lenses embedded with microelectronics designed to monitor changes in eye pressure and shape.
Another key objective of the mission is to test laser-based satellite communication between the spacecraft and Starlink, SpaceX’s constellation of more than 6,000 internet satellites. This test aims to enhance space communication speeds and could pave the way for future advancements in space-based communications.
After spending six days in space, the Polaris Dawn mission will conclude with a splashdown off the coast of Florida. The mission represents a significant milestone in the ongoing collaboration between private industry and space exploration, showcasing the potential for non-professional astronauts to achieve groundbreaking feats in space. The delay in launch, while disappointing, is a reminder of the challenges inherent in space missions and the careful consideration required to ensure the safety and success of such ambitious endeavors.
