The Polaris Dawn private astronaut mission, which was set to feature the first spacewalk from a Crew Dragon spacecraft, has experienced a setback, pushing its launch to at least the middle of 2024. The Polaris Program, backed by billionaire Jared Isaacman, announced on February 8th that the Polaris Dawn mission was rescheduled for no earlier than the summer, after previously setting an April launch date.

The delay was attributed to the need for additional developmental time to ensure the completion of mission goals and a safe launch and return of Dragon and the crew. One of the key mission goals is to conduct a spacewalk, marking the first from a Crew Dragon spacecraft. This necessitates the development of an extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuit that can be used outside the spacecraft, as well as modifications to the Crew Dragon to allow its cabin to be depressurized before the spacewalk and then repressurized after the spacewalk.

Billionaire Jared Isaacman acknowledged the challenges, stating that the work was more difficult than expected, which has contributed to the delays. SpaceX, the company responsible for the Crew Dragon spacecraft, reportedly underestimated the work required to convert the pressure suit currently worn by astronauts inside Crew Dragon into an EVA suit. The initial projection for the Polaris Dawn mission, announced two years ago, had set a launch date as early as the fourth quarter of 2022.

Elon Musk, the Chief Executive of SpaceX, hinted at the challenges in spacesuit development during a presentation to company employees, emphasizing the need to redesign the suit for improved mobility. The Polaris Dawn mission serves as a testing ground for the suit that SpaceX plans to use for future missions, making it a significant milestone for the company.