SpaceX Prepares for Historic Polaris Dawn Mission
SpaceX is set to launch the groundbreaking Polaris Dawn mission, featuring the first commercial spacewalk and innovative research on human health in space. Billionaire Jared Isaacman leads the crew on a five-day journey to explore the farthest distance from Earth since the Apollo era, paving the way for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
Polaris Dawn private astronaut mission delayed to at least mid-2024
The Polaris Dawn private astronaut mission, backed by billionaire Jared Isaacman, has been delayed to at least the middle of 2024. The delay is due 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, requiring the development of an extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuit and modifications to the Crew Dragon. Billionaire Jared Isaacman acknowledged the challenges, stating that the work was more difficult than expected, contributing to the delays. 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.