After facing a few setbacks due to unpredictable weather, the historic Polaris Dawn mission has finally lifted off into space.
This marks an exciting new chapter in private space exploration.
Liftoff Details
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, carrying a crew of four non-professional astronauts, took off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 05:25 local time (10:25 BST).
The Falcon 9 rocket propelled the capsule into orbit, sending the team on a journey that will take them up to 870 miles from Earth.
Breaking Records
This mission will push human boundaries further than ever before, surpassing the distance traveled since the Apollo moon landings.
The crew will enter the Van Allen Belt, a region of Earth’s magnetic field known for its intense radiation.
Pioneering Private Spacewalk
The five-day Polaris Dawn mission aims to achieve a groundbreaking feat: the first-ever spacewalk by private individuals not affiliated with national space agencies like NASA.
SpaceX celebrated the successful launch with a stunning photo on X (formerly Twitter), captioned: “Liftoff of Polaris Dawn!”
Meet the Crew
The mission features four U.S. engineers and pilots: Jared Isaacman, Scott Poteet, Sarah Gillis, and Anna Menon.
Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and the commander of the Inspiration4 mission in 2021, is financing the Polaris Dawn mission and has personally selected Poteet as the mission pilot.
Isaacman, founder of Shift4, has reportedly invested over $100 million in this mission.
The crew will spend up to five days in orbit, aiming to reach the highest Earth orbit ever achieved by a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
Preparing for Spacewalk
The crew’s first day will see them reach peak altitude and briefly enter the Van Allen Belt.
They will also conduct the first human spacewalk by non-agency astronauts, supporting research on human health for long-duration spaceflights.
To prepare for the spacewalk, SpaceX has announced a two-day pre-breathe process, starting on Thursday, September 12.
This involves breathing an oxygen-rich gas to remove nitrogen from their bodies, reducing the risk of decompression sickness—a precautionary measure longer than the standard two hours used for spacewalks from the International Space Station.
What’s Next?
Stay tuned for more updates as Polaris Dawn continues its groundbreaking mission.