SpaceX is making efforts to take human space exploration to the next level. With the launch of the Polaris Dawn Mission, SpaceX is self-assured to change space exploration by conducting a private spacewalk – something once reserved ‘exclusively’ for the state-backed astronauts.
The Polaris Dawn Mission is not just a milestone for SpaceX; it’s a glimpse into a future where space travel and tourism is no longer reserved for the astronauts trained by the states but opens up to civilians and visionaries. The mission represents the farthest any humans will have travelled from the Earth since the Apollo missions, setting a new historic benchmark in the space exploration.
Two SpaceX employees, a billionaire entrepreneur, and a retired US Air Force pilot are part of Polaris Dawn Mission
There is a crew of four people – billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, retired US Air Force pilot Scott Poteet, and two SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon in the Polaris Dawn Mission. The crew dragon spacecraft, sitting on top of the Falcon 9 rocket, was ready for an exciting journey in the crisp, and clear morning.
As countdown starts, engineers and astronauts get ready for the big launch. When everything was checked and ready, the rocket’s engines fire up, lifting the spacecraft into the sky. The rocket successfully lifts off from the launch pad, carrying the crew into the space. About two minutes and forty seconds into the flight, the rocket separated after completing its job.
The first rocket then landed back on the Earth, ready to be reused for future missions. The Falcon 9 rocket continues to ascend until it reaches space, as planned. The second stage then separates, allowing the crew to enter its orbit. The spacecraft carried out its mission, whether it involves docking with a space station or preparing to return to the Earth.
After completing its mission, the crew re-enters Earth’s atmosphere and splashes down in the ocean, where recovery teams are ready to greet them. This mission, marked by challenges and triumphs, becomes a noteworthy part of space exploration history. The launch was initially scheduled for August 26, but just a few hours before lift-off, a small helium leak was detected in the ground equipment at the launch pad.
The leakage issue led to the mission being postponed. After identifying the problem, SpaceX resolved the leak. However, the Falcon 9 rocket was later grounded again by US regulators due to a booster recovery failure on a separate mission. Both the issues had to be resolved before the Polaris Dawn Mission could move forward. The mission will be the last for five days as the plan has made.
In this mission, the crew will orbit the Earth, and they will conduct around 40 experiments. The members will perform the first-ever private spacewalk. The mission will take the crew to a higher altitude than any human has travelled since the Apollo missions. The theme of this mission is to push boundaries of human exploration beyond known limits. The mission will make history with the first-ever spacewalk conducted by private astronauts, marking a major step toward making space accessible to civilians, not just government-trained astronauts.
This mission aims to conduct experiments to better understand how cosmic radiation and the vacuum of space affect the human body, contributing valuable data for future space travel. The mission focuses on testing new technology, serving as a testing ground for new spacesuits and spacecraft designs, which will be crucial for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
The best thing about this mission is it helps humans to expanding horizon of humanity’s ongoing space exploration, offering farther from earth than any crew has since the Apollo missions, and laying the groundwork for future private and profitable space endeavors. The mission symbolizes innovation, exploration, and the shift towards a future where space is easily reached to all civilians.