In the early hours of Sunday morning, SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn crew successfully completed their five-day journey in space, capping off the historic mission with a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. The Crew Dragon capsule, carrying four astronauts, landed off the coast of Dry Tortugas, Florida, at 3:37 a.m. ET, marking the conclusion of a mission that included the world’s first commercial spacewalk.
“We’ve made history, and this is only the beginning of what’s possible with private space exploration,” said mission commander Jared Isaacman, the billionaire CEO of Shift4 Payments and key financier behind Polaris Dawn.
The mission achieved several significant milestones, including reaching the highest altitude for human spaceflight in over five decades. The crew orbited Earth at an apogee of 870 miles (1,400 kilometers), surpassing the 1966 altitude record set by NASA’s Gemini 11 mission. This achievement also marked the farthest distance from Earth that humans have traveled since the Apollo program ended in 1972.
For crew members Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, SpaceX engineers who served as mission specialists, the mission was particularly groundbreaking. The high altitude made them the first women to travel so far from Earth. “It was an honor to be part of this mission, to push the boundaries of human space exploration,” said Gillis.
Splashdown
Despite several major accomplishments during the mission, as always, returning to Earth presented one of its most dangerous challenges. To safely re-enter the atmosphere, the Crew Dragon performed a “de-orbit burn,” orienting itself for the high-speed descent back to Earth. As the spacecraft hit the atmosphere at speeds of 17,000 miles per hour (27,000 kilometers per hour), it endured temperatures as high as 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,900 degrees Celsius), protected by its heat shield.
Slowing down from the friction of the atmosphere, the capsule deployed its parachutes, which further decelerated its descent before it gently splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico. “Welcome back to planet Earth,” the host of SpaceX’s live broadcast exclaimed as cheers erupted in the background.
After splashdown, the capsule briefly bobbed in the water before being retrieved by a SpaceX recovery team stationed nearby. The team hauled the spacecraft onto a boat known as the “Dragon’s Nest,” where the astronauts disembarked after final safety checks. All four crew members, including pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet, emerged smiling and in good health.
History Making Spacewalk
Last Thursday, Polaris Dawn added another historic first by completing the world’s first commercial spacewalk, also known as an extravehicular activity (EVA). Isaacman and Gillis took turns exiting the spacecraft while it was fully depressurized, marking a new era in privately funded space operations.
Floating just outside the Crew Dragon capsule for roughly 10 minutes each, Isaacman and Gillis tested the functionality of SpaceX’s custom-designed EVA suits, which are engineered to protect astronauts from the harsh conditions of space. “Back at home, we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world,” Isaacman mused as he took in the breathtaking view during his spacewalk.
The EVA was conducted as part of the mission’s broader goal to test technologies that will be crucial for future deep-space missions, including flights to the Moon and Mars. Despite the high risks involved, the spacewalk was completed without any major issues, a success that SpaceX hailed as a significant step forward for commercial space operations.
A Mission with Purpose
Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now
In addition to making history, the Polaris Dawn mission focused heavily on scientific research. The crew conducted nearly 40 experiments during their five days in orbit, with a particular emphasis on understanding space adaptation syndrome, a form of motion sickness that occurs in microgravity. The research conducted on this mission is expected to contribute valuable insights into the long-term health of astronauts during future deep-space voyages.
Sarah Gillis, a trained violinist, also brought her violin onboard and performed Rey’s Theme from Star Wars: The Force Awakens in a symbolic test of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network, which successfully transmitted the music back to Earth. Meanwhile, Menon read from her co-authored children’s book Kisses From Space during a special video call with patients from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in an effort to raise awareness and support for the hospital.
The mission also tested SpaceX’s next-generation spacesuits, which are designed to offer enhanced protection against the rigors of space, including radiation and extreme temperatures. “These spacesuits will play a vital role in future missions, especially as we prepare for long-term exploration beyond low-Earth orbit,” Menon explained.
“The Resilience“
The Dragon capsule used for Polaris Dawn, named Resilience, has a storied past. It first flew in 2020 for NASA’s Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station and later in 2021 for the Inspiration4 mission, also led by Isaacman. This marked the third trip to space for Resilience, which continues to demonstrate SpaceX’s commitment to reusability in spacecraft design.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now
Looking ahead, Isaacman has plans for even more ambitious missions. Polaris Dawn is the first of three planned flights in cooperation with SpaceX, with the next slated to involve a flight to the Hubble Space Telescope to extend its operational life. A third mission is expected to be the first crewed flight of SpaceX’s next-generation Starship rocket.
“This mission is just the beginning of what we can achieve in the future,” Isaacman said. “There’s so much more ahead as we continue to push the boundaries of human spaceflight.”
As SpaceX continues to set new milestones in commercial space exploration, the successful splashdown of Polaris Dawn is yet another reminder of the potential for privately funded missions to lead the charge in the next frontier of human exploration.
