SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission includes first-ever private spacewalk
SpaceX is preparing for the launch of the Polaris Dawn mission, scheduled for Tuesday, August 27. The mission is notable for aiming to launch a Crew Dragon spacecraft to the highest orbit yet, with plans for the first-ever private spacewalk. The launch will take place from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with a four-hour window opening at 3:38 a.m. ET (07:38 GMT). Originally scheduled for August 26, the launch was delayed by a day for additional systems checks.
Who’s on the Polaris Dawn crew?
The mission four people will be launched into orbit aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The crew includes billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who is funding and leading the mission. Joining him are pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, and mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, both SpaceX engineers.
What to expect during the mission
Polaris Dawn aims to reach an orbit of about 435 miles (700 kilometers) above Earth, making it the highest orbit a Crew Dragon spacecraft has ever reached. This altitude is about 185 miles (300 km) higher than the orbit of the International Space Station. On the second day of the mission, Isaacman and Gillis are expected to conduct a two-hour spacewalk, which will be the first private spacewalk in history. The spacewalk will test a newly designed spacesuit in the vacuum of space, which will contribute to future missions beyond Earth’s orbit. Additionally, the crew will conduct several science and technology experiments during their five-day stay in orbit.
How to watch the launch live
Both the launch and spacewalk will be streamed live, giving viewers the chance to witness these historic events as they happen. The launch webcast will begin approximately one hour before liftoff, and you can watch it on Polaris Dawn’s and SpaceX’s X feeds.
Don’t miss this pivotal moment in space exploration. Be sure to tune in and follow the mission closely as the Polaris Dawn crew embarks on this groundbreaking journey.
