SpaceX crew returns to Earth after first-ever private spacewalk
Polaris Dawn mission, a private space expedition by SpaceX, has successfully concluded with the safe return of its four astronauts. The crew landed near the Dry Tortugas off Florida's coast in a splashdown today. This five-day journey was sponsored by billionaire internet entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who also served as the mission commander. The mission is notable for achieving several milestones, including the first-ever commercial spacewalk using SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule.
Landing confirmed by SpaceX
Isaacman and Gillis conduct 1st commercial spacewalk
Isaacman and fellow astronaut Sarah Gillis, each spent approximately 20 minutes outside the capsule during the historic spacewalk on Thursday. The event began at 6:12am EDT on September 12, 2024, nearly four hours later than initially planned due to unforeseen circumstances. Isaacman was the first to exit the spacecraft at 6:48am EDT, followed by Gillis at 7:04am EDT. Both astronauts performed a series of spacesuit mobility checks while tethered to the spacecraft, capturing stunning live views of their activities.
Polaris Dawn mission sets new Earth orbit record
The Polaris Dawn mission also set a new record for the highest-ever Earth orbit by humans, reaching 1,407km above the surface. This achievement surpasses the previous record set by Gemini 11 in 1966 and is more than three times higher than the International Space Station (ISS)'s orbit. The last time humans were this far from Earth was during NASA's Apollo lunar program over half a century ago.
SpaceX's own employees joined the mission
The Polaris Dawn mission marked another first for SpaceX, as it included the company's own employees on a flight. Gillis, a lead space operations engineer at SpaceX responsible for overseeing the company's astronaut training program, was part of the crew. She was joined by engineer Anna Menon who manages development of crew operations at SpaceX. The fourth crew member, Scott "Kidd" Poteet, is a retired Air Force pilot who works with Isaacman.
Isaacman's commitment to future spaceflights
The Polaris Dawn mission is the first of three flights that Isaacman has purchased under the Polaris Program. He had previously spent three days in orbit in 2021 aboard this same SpaceX capsule on the Inspiration4 mission, which he also funded. The successful completion of the Polaris Dawn mission not only highlights the potential of private space travel but also sets a precedent for future civilian missions.
