SpaceX is targeting August 26 for the launch of Polaris Dawn, a groundbreaking crewed mission to Earth orbit. The flight will feature the first-ever private spacewalk, marking a significant milestone in commercial spaceflight. The Polaris Dawn crew consists of billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as commander, retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel Scott “Kidd” Poteet as pilot, and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon as mission specialists.
The mission will send the crew to an altitude of about 435 miles (700 kilometers) above Earth, farther than any mission since the Apollo program. Polaris Dawn is the first of three planned crewed missions in the Polaris Program, all using SpaceX hardware and funded by Isaacman. The launch date has been adjusted due to the mission’s pioneering complexity.
SpaceX currently has the Crew-8 mission in orbit, with the Crew-9 astronauts scheduled to launch later this year.
SpaceX prepares for unique spacewalk
Isaacman previously commanded the Inspiration4 mission in 2021, which raised over $240 million for St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He announced the Polaris Program in 2022, aiming to push the boundaries of commercial spaceflight in tandem with SpaceX’s goal of building a colony on Mars. The central facet of Polaris Dawn is the first commercial tethered spacewalk, requiring the development of spacesuits that can withstand the vacuum of space for all four crew members.
The mission also aims to take the Crew Dragon to a higher altitude than previous flights and test laser-based communication using Starlink satellites. Two of the crew members, Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis, have deep ties to Colorado, underscoring the state’s vital role in advancing space exploration. The successful completion of Polaris Dawn could substantially contribute to the long-term goal of establishing a human presence on Mars.
