Source – timesnownews.com
On Tuesday, SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn Mission sent a crew of four civilian astronauts into orbit. Within hours, the mission made history by achieving the highest orbit around Earth, surpassing a record that has stood since NASA’s Gemini 11 mission in 1966. The Crew Dragon spacecraft, carrying the team, reached an altitude of 1,400.7 kilometers (870 miles) at 9:19 p.m. ET, exceeding the previous record of 1,373 kilometers (853 miles). This milestone also marks the farthest human journey into space since the last Apollo mission in 1972 and the farthest a woman has traveled in space.
The mission’s crew includes Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman, former U.S. Air Force pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet, and SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. As part of their journey, the astronauts conducted the first round of scientific research and experiments while testing SpaceX’s Starlink system for in-space connectivity, a potential game-changer for future deep-space missions. The testing lasted 3.5 hours, providing valuable data for improving commercial space travel technologies.
Preparing for Spacewalk and Facing New Challenges
While the crew celebrated their record-breaking achievement, the mission’s most challenging tasks lie ahead. The crew will attempt the first commercial spacewalk on Thursday, marking another historic moment for space exploration. Set to take place while orbiting 700 kilometers (435 miles) above Earth, the spacewalk will involve Isaacman and Gillis stepping outside the Crew Dragon capsule for approximately two hours, while the spacecraft remains open to the vacuum of space.
To prepare for the spacewalk, the crew has undergone an extended “pre-breathe” process. This procedure, designed to prevent decompression sickness, gradually removes nitrogen from their blood as the cabin’s oxygen levels increase and pressure decreases. Unlike the International Space Station, where pre-breathing takes just a few hours, Polaris Dawn’s process will last about 45 hours, ensuring the astronauts’ safety during the spacewalk. SpaceX’s newly developed Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suits, designed in just 2.5 years, will provide vital protection for the crew during their exposure to space.
SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn Mission Launch Rapid Replay
Managing Risks and Ensuring Safe Return
SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission, although groundbreaking, carries inherent risks. After completing the spacewalk, the crew faces the challenge of safely closing the hatch and repressurizing the Crew Dragon capsule before returning to Earth. Former NASA astronaut and SpaceX advisor Garrett Reisman acknowledged the mission’s dangers, emphasizing that any first-time space endeavor involves significant uncertainty. He expressed concern about the mission’s success but remained hopeful, stating that he would feel more at ease once the crew had successfully concluded their spacewalk and secured the spacecraft.
As SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission continues to push the boundaries of commercial space exploration, it not only marks significant advancements for SpaceX but also sets the stage for future deep-space missions that will benefit from the technologies and insights gained during this historic flight.
