Polaris Dawn Crew Dragon Spacecraft Re-entry | International Space Station

Polaris Dawn Crew Dragon Spacecraft Re-entry | International Space Station

NASA astronaut Don Pettit aboard the International Space Station (ISS) captured this image on Sept. 15, 2024: "Polaris Dawn entry . . . I photographed it at 7:23 am GMT from the Cupola on ISS. In addition to the multi-colored entry trail over Florida, the basic cone shape of the Dragon capsule can be seen."

Note: The cupola is a small space station module with seven windows for observing the Earth and activities outside.  

Image Details: Nikon Z9, 200mm f2, 1/400th sec, ISO 25600

After nearly five days on orbit, the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and the Polaris Dawn crew safely splashed down at 3:36 a.m. ET on Sunday, September 15, 2024, off the coast of Dry Tortugas, Florida, completing the first human spaceflight mission of the Polaris Program.

Polaris Dawn Crew

Jared Isaacman - Mission Commander & Spacewalker

Scott Poteet - Mission Pilot

Sarah Gillis - Mission Specialist & Spacewalker

Anna Menon - Mission Specialist & Medical Officer

Polaris Dawn has completed the first commercial spacewalks from Crew Dragon. The crew have tested Starlink-laser based communications and conducted a wide range of research in microgravity involving ~36 studies and experiments from 31 partner institutions related to human health.

The Polaris Dawn Mission is flying a specially-modified SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft that flew higher than any mission to date since the Apollo program, reaching the highest Earth orbit ever flown at approximately 700 kilometers above the Earth. Orbiting through portions of the Van Allen radiation belt, Polaris Dawn is conducting research with the aim of better understanding the effects of spaceflight and space radiation on human health, while testing laser-based communications.

"Completing the first commercial extravehicular activity in low-Earth orbit is an important first step towards a future where millions of humans are visiting, working, and living on the Moon, Mars, and other destinations in our solar system."

This has been the first human spaceflight for Mission Pilot Kidd Poteet, Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis, and Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Anna Menon. Mission Commander Jared Isaacman previously flew to space as commander of Inspiration4. This has also been the first time two SpaceX employees have been part of a human spaceflight crew, providing valuable insight to future missions on the road to making life multiplanetary.

Learn more about the Polaris Program:

https://polarisprogram.com

Image Credit: Polaris Program

Capture Date: Sept. 15, 2024

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