SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission is poised to set a new milestone in space exploration this week, as it prepares to conduct the first-ever private spacewalk. This historic event, scheduled for August 27 at 3:38 a.m. ET (0738 GMT) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marks a significant step forward in the era of private spaceflight. Unlike previous spacewalks, which have been exclusively carried out by astronauts from government space agencies, this mission will feature two of the four private astronauts stepping out of the Crew Dragon capsule while orbiting Earth.
The Polaris Dawn mission is not just a symbolic venture but a critical test of SpaceX’s new spacesuit technology. During the spacewalk, the Crew Dragon capsule will be fully depressurized, as it lacks an airlock. This means that all crew members will be entirely reliant on their spacesuits for survival—a scenario that will rigorously test the suits' capabilities. The mission, which will span six days in total, has the spacewalk scheduled for the third day.
Jared Isaacman, the billionaire CEO of Shift4 Payments, is the mission commander for Polaris Dawn. He will be one of the two astronauts performing the spacewalk alongside Sarah Gillis. Isaacman, who is funding the Polaris Dawn mission through his Polaris program, has kept the mission’s total cost under wraps, though estimates suggest it could run into hundreds of millions of dollars.
This mission marks Isaacman’s second venture into space, following the groundbreaking all-civilian Inspiration4 mission in 2021. Looking ahead, Isaacman has two more missions planned—one aboard another Crew Dragon flight and the other on SpaceX’s Starship. However, details of these future missions have not yet been disclosed.
Sarah Gillis, a senior space operations engineer at SpaceX, serves as a mission specialist on the Polaris Dawn mission. Her journey with SpaceX began in 2015 when she joined the company as an intern. Since then, she has played a crucial role in training NASA astronauts for various missions. Gillis holds an engineering degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and will be making her spaceflight debut with Polaris Dawn. She will accompany Jared Isaacman on the historic spacewalk, making her one of the first private astronauts to undertake such a feat.
Scott Poteet, the mission pilot for Polaris Dawn, brings a wealth of experience from his 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force, where he amassed over 3,200 flight hours, including time spent piloting the F-16 fighter jet. Poteet previously served as the Mission Director for the Inspiration4 mission and was the Vice President of Strategy at Shift4 Payments until 2022. In addition to his piloting duties, Poteet will assist with the spacewalk and maintain communication with mission control, ensuring the mission's success.
Anna Menon, serving as the mission specialist and medical officer for Polaris Dawn, is tasked with overseeing the crew’s health and safety throughout the mission. Menon is responsible for monitoring the astronauts' well-being and providing medical care if needed. She has a Master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University and manages crew operations at SpaceX. Menon is married to Anil Menon, a NASA astronaut-in-training and former SpaceX flight surgeon.
The Polaris Dawn mission is more than just a space expedition; it’s a pivotal moment in the commercialization of space. With private companies like SpaceX taking the lead in space exploration, this mission represents a shift in how humanity approaches space travel. The success of this mission could pave the way for more private ventures into space, challenging the traditional dominance of government space agencies.
As SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of private spaceflight, the Polaris Dawn mission is expected to have far-reaching implications. Should the mission prove successful, it will not only validate the capabilities of SpaceX’s technology but also inspire confidence in the feasibility of future private space missions. With Jared Isaacman’s vision and SpaceX’s technological prowess, the potential for groundbreaking advancements in space exploration has never been greater.
SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission is set to make history with the first private spacewalk, showcasing the evolving landscape of space exploration. As Jared Isaacman, Sarah Gillis, Scott Poteet, and Anna Menon embark on this ambitious journey, they are not only breaking new ground but also setting the stage for the future of private space travel. The mission’s success could mark the beginning of a new era, where space is more accessible to private enterprises and individuals, potentially revolutionizing our approach to exploring the final frontier.