Polaris Dawn Mission: First-ever Commercial Spacewalks & Spacesuit Tests
Sarah Gillis during first commercial spacewalk
Sarah Gillis during first commercial spacewalk
Jared Isaacman during first commercial spacewalk
Earth - Polaris Dawn crew shared via Starlink from space
Orbital sunset
Orbital sunset
Orbital sunset
The Polaris Dawn Crew - shared via Starlink from space
The Polaris Dawn Mission completed two spacewalks (extravehicular activities) on September 12, 2024. The first extravehicular activity was performed by Mission Commander Jared Isaacman (EV1). The second was conducted by Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis (EV2). Both exited SpaceX's Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft traveling in an elliptical orbit up to 700 km+ above Earth. This was the first commercial extravehicular activity (EVA) in history. The Polaris Dawn crew successfully tested SpaceX’s newly-developed EVA spacesuit.
Polaris Dawn Crew
Jared Isaacman - Mission Commander
Scott Poteet - Mission Pilot
Sarah Gillis - Mission Specialist
Anna Menon - Mission Specialist & Medical Officer
Polaris Dawn has completed the first commercial spacewalks from Crew Dragon. It has tested Starlink-laser based communications and is conducting a wide range of research in microgravity. Polaris Dawn will return to Earth and splash down off the coast of Florida to end its five day mission.
The Polaris Dawn Mission is flying a specially-modified SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft 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."
Learn more about the Polaris Program:
Image Credit: SpaceX/Polaris Program
Image Dates: Sept. 11-12, 2024
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