First-ever private spacewalk today: When and how to watch
SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission is set to make history with the first-ever private spacewalk, scheduled for later today. The groundbreaking spacewalk—also known as extravehicular activity (EVA)—will be led by billionaire Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis, two members of the four-person crew currently onboard the Dragon capsule. The Polaris Dawn mission was launched into Earth orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on September 10.
Spacewalk details and live coverage
The spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 5:58 am ET (3:28 pm IST). If necessary, a backup opportunity is available tomorrow. A live webcast will begin approximately one hour before the event, which you can watch on SpaceX's website, X (@SpaceX), and the new X TV app. The spacewalk will happen at an altitude of around 700km, much higher than the International Space Station (~400km). The crew will prepare for it by conducting pre-breathing exercises, mobility tests, and inspections.
Crew members will be exposed to the vacuum of space
The Dragon's cabin pressure will be gradually lowered to a vacuum before the hatch opens. Once open, all four crew members will be exposed to the vacuum of space. Isaacman will first exit Dragon, perform mobility tests, and then return to the spacecraft. Gillis will follow a similar procedure. Mission pilot Kidd Poteet and Medical Officer Anna Menon will monitor vital systems throughout the operation from within the capsule. All crew members are wearing SpaceX EVA suits for this mission.
Main goal of spacewalk is to test SpaceX's EVA suits
The primary objective of this spacewalk is to test the new SpaceX suits, which were developed in-house in about 2.5 years for use on various missions to Earth orbit and beyond. Isaacman expressed his excitement about the potential future iterations of these suits, stating that someone could be wearing a version of it on Mars someday. He described it as a "huge honor" to have the opportunity to test these suits on this flight.
Spacewalk will last for about 2 hours
Unlike the Primary Life Support System or PLSS backpacks used by ISS astronauts, SpaceX EVA suits will rely on long hoses attached to the spacecraft for life support. Once Isaacman and Gillis complete the spacewalk, the hatch of the Dragon will be closed. The capsule will then be repressurized, and oxygen and nitrogen levels will return to normal. The entire spacewalk is expected to last approximately two hours.
Polaris Dawn mission's scientific experiments
The Polaris Dawn mission plans to conduct up to 40 scientific experiments, including research on high-altitude radiation exposure and the physiological impacts of spacewalking. The data gathered will be crucial for future commercial space ventures and NASA's lunar and Martian exploration plans. As the first of three planned Polaris Program missions, the success of this private spacewalk could signify a significant milestone in the commercialization of space activities.
