Polaris Dawn Takes Flight: The Mission That May Redefine Commercial Space Exploration

The Florida skies over the Kennedy Space Center lit up once again this morning with the 5:23 a.m. ET launch of the Polaris Dawn mission. This mission may prove to be one of the most significant yet in the realm of commercial space flight. The mission, spearheaded by SpaceX and billionaire Jared Isaacman, aims to break multiple records and test several new technologies that will advance private space exploration.

Polaris Dawn: Not A Typical Mission

Polaris Dawn isn’t your typical space mission. This five-day excursion will see the crew travel into Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts, an area few missions venture. Their goal is ambitious: to carry out the first-ever commercial spacewalk while orbiting at a record-setting altitude. While the International Space Station orbits at roughly 250 miles above Earth, the Polaris Dawn crew plans to surpass 870 miles, the highest any humans have traveled since NASA’s Apollo missions.

The mission hasn’t come without its share of hurdles. Weather delays plagued the original launch date in late August, and the weather on Tuesday nearly postponed today’s launch again. Timing is critical for the success of the mission, especially given the spacewalk’s demands on the life support systems. Each stage of the mission had to be carefully synchronized, especially when coordinating the landing sites and forecast weather conditions.

Mission Goals

The Polaris Dawn mission is jam-packed with milestones, many of which are firsts in the world of private space exploration. Here’s a closer look at some of the history-making goals for this mission:

1. First Commercial Spacewalk: The most eagerly anticipated event will occur on day three when two crewmembers, Jared Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis, will attempt the first-ever private spacewalk. This is an unprecedented move in space exploration, as all previous spacewalks have been conducted by government space agencies like NASA.
2. Highest Earth Orbit Since Apollo: Polaris Dawn aims to break the record set by NASA’s 1966 Gemini 11 mission, which reached an altitude of 853 miles. If successful, it will also be the farthest a woman has ever traveled into space, with SpaceX engineer Anna Menon on board.
3. First All-Private Scientific Mission: This mission isn’t just about breaking records. The crew will conduct 38 scientific experiments, many focused on understanding the effects of space radiation on human health—an important study as private missions look towards deeper space travel, including trips to Mars.
4. Brand New Space Suit Design: The crew will be testing a brand new “streamlined” space suit designed by SpaceX. The new suit is designed to be useful in a variety of scenarios, from spacewalks to moonwalks.
5. Complete Cabin Depressurization: Unlike previous Crew Dragon missions, this one will not have an airlock. This means the entire cabin will have to be depressurized during a spacewalk, subjecting the entire crew to the vacuum of space when the hatch is opened. Because of the loss of atmosphere, all of the Dragon’s on board computers and systems have to be capable of operating without air to cool them.

The Polaris Dawn Crew

Commanded by Jared Isaacman, the crew of Polaris Dawn is an all-civilian group. Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and founder of Shift4 Payments, made headlines in 2021 when he led the Inspiration4 mission, another groundbreaking civilian space journey. With him on this mission are three equally dedicated team members:

• Scott “Kidd” Poteet: A former U.S. Air Force pilot with over 3,200 flight hours, Poteet serves as the mission’s pilot. His aviation background brings critical expertise to the crew.
• Sarah Gillis: A SpaceX engineer who has worked extensively in crew operations. As one of the two astronauts attempting the spacewalk, her role is pivotal to the success of this mission.
• Anna Menon: Also a SpaceX engineer, Menon will serve as the mission’s medical officer. She will remain inside the capsule during the spacewalk, monitoring the crew’s health and the spacecraft’s systems.

None of the crew, except for Isaacman, has ever been to space before, making this mission even more daring. However, each has been extensively trained as astronauts to handle the unique challenges posed by this voyage.

Spacewalk: Testing New Spacesuits and Facing the Unknown

Perhaps the most dangerous and ambitious part of the Polaris Dawn mission is the planned spacewalk. This will be the first time private astronauts have ever ventured outside their spacecraft, and they will do so using SpaceX’s newly designed spacesuits.

Unlike the NASA suits used for spacewalks at the International Space Station, the SpaceX suits are designed specifically for this mission. These suits feature enhanced flexibility, improved thermal management, and a heads-up display integrated into the helmet for vital information. One of the most significant challenges, however, is that the entire Crew Dragon capsule will be depressurized during the spacewalk, putting all four crew members at risk. This is a highly unusual and risky procedure, as the entire spacecraft will be exposed to the vacuum of space, not just the astronauts stepping outside.

Bill Gerstenmaier, SpaceX’s vice president of build and flight reliability, acknowledged the risks but expressed confidence in the company’s preparation. “We’re going to do it as safely as we can, and we’ve got the right protocols,” he said. The suits will be connected to the spacecraft via umbilical cords, providing oxygen and cooling to the astronauts, but any malfunction could prove disastrous.

Spacewalks—known as extravehicular activities (EVAs)—are among the most dangerous parts of any space mission. In NASA’s early Gemini missions, astronauts frequently struggled with their suits and equipment, sometimes cutting their spacewalks short due to safety concerns. Although technology has advanced significantly since then, this will be the first time these suits and procedures will be tested in space, and the pressure is high.

Philanthropy in Space: Raising Funds for St. Jude Children’s Hospital

As with his Inspiration4 mission, Jared Isaacman is using the Polaris Dawn mission to support a charitable cause. The mission is part of a larger initiative to raise funds and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which focuses on treating and curing childhood cancers. During Inspiration4, Isaacman raised $250 million for the hospital, and he aims to continue supporting its mission through the Polaris program.

In addition to scientific research and setting records, the crew’s mission will highlight the importance of combining space exploration with philanthropy. Isaacman’s vision of using these high-profile missions to inspire hope and contribute to life-saving medical research adds an emotional depth to the journey.

A Giant Leap for Commercial Space Travel

Beyond the science and the philanthropy, Polaris Dawn represents a giant leap for the future of private space exploration. SpaceX’s vision of lowering the costs of space travel and pushing the boundaries of what private missions can achieve is on full display with this mission. If successful, the lessons learned from Polaris Dawn will pave the way for more ambitious private missions, including plans for private space stations and even trips to the Moon and Mars.

As the crew begins their journey, the eyes of the world—and particularly the space community—are focused on the potential successes and risks. With the first private spacewalk, record-breaking altitudes, and groundbreaking scientific experiments on the agenda, Polaris Dawn is more than just a space mission. It’s a bold step into a new era of space exploration where private citizens—backed by vision, technology, and philanthropy—are leading the charge into the final frontier.