SpaceX is gearing up for its groundbreaking Polaris Dawn mission, set to launch four astronauts into orbit aboard the Crew Dragon capsule. Funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, the mission will include three other privately-trained astronauts: retired US Air Force fighter pilot Scott Poteet, as well as SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. This mission will mark the first spacewalk by private astronauts, taking place around 430 miles above Earth.
Isaacman and Gillis will be the astronauts conducting the spacewalk during the Polaris Dawn mission. This spacewalk is not the sole objective of the mission; the astronauts will also be testing SpaceX’s extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits, made with new materials for enhanced mobility. The upgraded suits feature a 3D-printed helmet with a heads-up display and visor to reduce glare. The crew members will wear these suits during the spacewalk due to the absence of an airlock on the Crew Dragon capsule.
In addition to the spacewalk and EVA suit testing, the Polaris Dawn crew will contribute to research on the effects of space radiation on the human body. The mission will also involve testing Starlink’s satellite internet technology for communication with Earth, as well as studying decompression sickness and Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome.
The Polaris Dawn mission is scheduled to launch on Tuesday, August 27th, with SpaceX aiming for a 3:38AM ET liftoff time. In the event of a delay, two additional launch times have been set for 5:23AM ET and 7:09AM ET. The Crew Dragon capsule will be carried by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Those interested in watching the mission can tune in to the livestream on SpaceX’s website and its associated X page, with coverage starting at approximately 12:05AM ET. The spacewalk, slated for the third day of the mission, will also be livestreamed for viewers to follow along with the historic event.
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