First-ever private spacewalk accomplished by Polaris Dawn astronauts
Thumbnail courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Private astronauts recently conducted the first commercial spacewalk to test new spacesuits for further missions in the future.
On Thursday, Sept. 12, two private astronauts, Mission Commander Jared Isaacman and Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis, conducted the first commercial spacewalk. This spacewalk will also test the new SpaceX Extravehicular Activity (EVA) spacesuits for further space-faring missions. Mission Pilot Scott Poteet and Medical Officer/Mission Specialist Anna Menon pilot Polaris to be on standby for any mishaps inside the spacecraft container.
The spacewalk itself was relatively short-lived, as it only lasted less than two hours, with the opening and depressurization of the spacecraft beginning at 6:12 a.m. and ending at 7:58 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
While it might seem the spacewalk was not worth all the effort for its short time frame, it garnered beneficial data that will help show how space conditions affect the human body and gather information on how space radiation can affect individuals. These data fields may help the scientific and space-faring community better adapt and improve upon the journey towards the stars, fine-tuning the suit and beyond for more effective assembly.
Billionaire Jared Isaacman acquired the Polaris mission and program in collaboration with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Isaacman, the founder of Draken International and Shift4 Payments, a private fighter aircraft distributor and payment processor, said that the reason for buying the space-faring program was not for his own sake. “The Polaris Program is an important step in advancing human space exploration while helping to solve problems through innovative technology here on Earth,” Isaacman said in a statement.
Previously, Isaacman founded the first spacecraft mission in which all occupants were private citizens. The mission "Inspiration4" took place in September 2021, from Sept. 16 to the 18. The purpose of the space-faring ride was a charity effort in combination with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, raising 240 million dollars for the organization.
The overall purpose of the Polaris Dawn program is to help gather information for further exploration and subsequent missions to both the Moon and Mars. After this first mission concludes on Sept. 15, 2024, there will be two more. The final mission will allow the first manned flight on SpaceX's Starship to commence. This is a first-of-its-kind resource and personnel transporting spacecraft. Starship seeks to carry our brightest minds and resources beyond even Mars, allowing for full reusability to NASA and beyond.
Though this was only one part of the team’s mission, since their launch on Tuesday, the crew has also been working hard testing SpaceX’s Starlink laser communications. This could provide high-speed internet for consumers on Earth and gather valuable and necessary details for communication equipment for missions to the moon.
Post-spacewalk, the mission has continued to be smooth sailing for the crew, with seemingly helpful information for scientists to dissect and a newfound charge for inspiration and curiosity from the live-streamed event. It now seems to be only a matter of time before the efforts in these endeavors will become beneficial. Not just for the few to go on these missions but maybe for humanity and possibly beyond.