On September 10, 2024, SpaceX launched the Polaris Dawn mission, a groundbreaking space expedition that aims to achieve the first-ever spacewalk by a non-professional astronaut crew. The mission, led by Jared Isaacman, CEO of Shift4 Payments, is set to venture farther into space than any manned mission since the Apollo era over 50 years ago.
The four-member crew, which includes mission pilot Scott Poteet, mission specialist Sarah Gillis, and medical officer Anna Menon, plans to reach a peak altitude of 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) on the first day. They will travel through the Van Allen radiation belt, a high-radiation zone that presents significant challenges to human health.
The mission’s highlight is a spacewalk scheduled for 0623 GMT on Thursday, with a backup window on Friday. This will be the first time civilians will attempt a spacewalk in newly-developed SpaceX suits, as two crew members will venture outside the Crew Dragon capsule, tethered to the spacecraft.
Additionally, the crew will test new laser-based satellite communications and conduct 36 scientific experiments, including monitoring eye pressure changes using contact lenses with embedded microelectronics.
Polaris Dawn is the first of three planned missions under the Polaris program, a collaboration between Isaacman and SpaceX. The final mission will be the first crewed flight of SpaceX’s Starship prototype, a rocket designed for future Mars colonization.
