Today, high above our heads at an astounding 435 miles (700 km), SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission reached a historic milestone: the world’s first private spacewalk.
Just before midday, billionaire Jared Isaacman made history as the first non-professional astronaut to step into the vast void of space.
“Back home we have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world,” Isaacman remarked as he floated out into space.
Soon after, SpaceX’s Sarah Gillis followed suit, exiting the capsule for her own spacewalk.
The Spacewalk Begins
The spacewalk officially commenced at 11:17 BST when pure oxygen from the spacecraft started flowing into the astronauts’ suits.
The crew, which includes Isaacman, mission pilot Scott ‘Kidd’ Poteet, and SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, faced a tense half-hour of preparation.
During this time, they conducted thorough suit checks, ensuring the helmets’ heads-up displays were functioning correctly and that there were no air leaks.
Once the leak checks were complete, the crew breathed pure oxygen while waiting for the spacecraft’s pressure to drop.
At 11:43 BST, Isaacman was cleared to open the spacecraft’s hatch.
After loosening the hatch to vent the remaining atmosphere, he ventured into space, becoming the first non-professional astronaut to perform a spacewalk.
Testing the EVA Suit
Outside the Dragon capsule, Isaacman tested the mobility of the new extravehicular activity (EVA) suits on a platform called ‘Skywalker.’
This was the first time SpaceX’s EVA suits were used outside a lab setting, and the company was eager to see how they performed in the harsh conditions of space.
Isaacman spent just over ten minutes outside, performing a series of planned movements to test the suit’s capabilities.
Despite his spacewalk, Isaacman remained tethered to the spacecraft, never floating freely.
Sarah Gillis’s Spacewalk
Following Isaacman’s return to the spacecraft, Sarah Gillis exited to perform her spacewalk.
She noted some ‘bulging’ seals around the hatch due to the pressure change, but managed to push them back into position before continuing.
After her ten-minute spacewalk, Gillis re-entered the Dragon capsule, and the hatch was sealed.
The cabin’s pressure was gradually restored to safe levels, and at 13:00 BST, mission control confirmed the successful completion of the EVA.
Meet the Polaris Dawn Crew
Here’s a brief look at the Polaris Dawn crew:
- Jared Isaacman: Mission Commander, age 41. Isaacman, who founded the payment processing company Shift4 at 16, is leading this groundbreaking mission.
- Scott ‘Kidd’ Poteet: Mission Pilot, age 50. A retired Air Force commander with extensive experience in missions across Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq.
- Sarah Gillis: Mission Specialist, age 30. As a lead space operations engineer for SpaceX, Gillis oversaw Isaacman’s training for the Inspiration4 mission.
- Anna Menon: Mission Specialist and Medical Officer, age 38. Previously a biomedical flight controller at NASA, Menon now leads space operations at SpaceX.
The Road to Spacewalk
SpaceX initially planned the spacewalk for 05:58 ET (10:58 BST) on September 12, with a backup opportunity on September 13.
The spacewalk was delayed from its original 07:23 BST (02:23 ET) start time, although the reason for the delay was not disclosed.
This achievement is a significant leap for SpaceX, as spacewalks have previously been the domain of state-backed space agencies due to the high risks involved.
The mission is a major step towards SpaceX’s goal of making commercial space travel more accessible.
The Challenges of Spacewalks
Spacewalks are notoriously risky, and the Polaris Dawn mission added its own set of challenges.
The crew faced extreme pressure changes as the Dragon capsule was depressurized.
This can cause symptoms similar to those experienced during rapid ascents in aircraft, but with potentially severe consequences like decompression sickness.
To mitigate these risks, the crew underwent an extended pre-breathing procedure with a high-oxygen gas mix to prepare their bodies.
Public Reactions and Future Plans
Social media buzzed with excitement and well-wishes for the crew.
Comments ranged from awe at the technological advancements to congratulations on this groundbreaking achievement.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk expressed his enthusiasm with a simple tweet: “Spacewalk!!”
The Polaris Dawn mission, which launched on September 10 from the Kennedy Space Centre, reached an altitude of 870 miles (1,400 km) above Earth, surpassing the highest altitude achieved since the Apollo missions.
The mission also conducted nearly 40 scientific experiments and trialed SpaceX’s latest laser-based communication system.
After six days in space, the mission will conclude with a splashdown off the coast of Florida.
This historic spacewalk marks a significant milestone in commercial spaceflight and paves the way for future missions.
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