SpaceX is all set to launch its groundbreaking Polaris Dawn mission on Tuesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This ambitious venture aims to set multiple records and push the boundaries of commercial spaceflight.
WATCH LIVE SPACEX LAUNCHES POLARIS DAWN MISSION
Led by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, the Polaris Dawn crew will embark on a five-day journey aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Joining Isaacman are pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet and mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, both SpaceX engineers.
One of the mission’s primary objectives is to conduct the first-ever commercial spacewalk. On the third day of the flight, crew members will exit the spacecraft at an altitude of approximately 435 miles above Earth, spending up to 20 minutes in the vacuum of space.
This endeavour will test SpaceX’s new extravehicular activity (EVA) suits, designed for future long-duration missions.
Polaris Dawn aims to reach an unprecedented orbital altitude for a commercial flight, potentially ascending to 870 miles above Earth’s surface. This would surpass the record set by the Gemini 11 mission and mark the highest Earth orbit flown by humans since the Apollo program.
The mission will also venture into the Van Allen radiation belt, allowing researchers to study the effects of space radiation on human health and spacecraft systems.
Additionally, the crew will test Starlink laser-based communications in space and conduct numerous scientific experiments.
As the first of three planned missions in the Polaris program, Polaris Dawn represents a significant step towards SpaceX’s goal of advancing human spaceflight capabilities.
The mission faces unique challenges, such as the lack of an airlock on the Crew Dragon capsule, requiring the crew to undergo an extended pre-breathing process to prepare for the spacewalk.
Source Agencies
