NASA Hails SpaceX for Groundbreaking Civilian Spacewalk

NASA Applauds SpaceX for Pioneering Civilian Spacewalk

On Thursday morning, the four-member crew of the Dragon spacecraft, orbiting at an altitude of 434 miles (700 kilometers), began their extravehicular activity (EVA) at 10:12 GMT...

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission achieves historic spacewalk, tests new technologies, and paves the way for future crewed flights, including the inaugural launch of Starship, a crucial step towards colonizing Mars.

In a groundbreaking achievement, the private crew of SpaceX Polaris made history on September 12 by becoming the first civilians to perform spacewalks. This milestone marks a significant advancement in the commercial space industry, according to NASA.

The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission, led by fintech billionaire Jared Isaacman, launched from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on September 10. This pioneering mission reached new heights, venturing further into space than any human has in the past 50 years, since the iconic Apollo program.

On Thursday morning, the four-member crew of the Dragon spacecraft, orbiting at an altitude of 434 miles (700 kilometers), began their extravehicular activity (EVA) at 10:12 GMT. This marked the official start of their spacewalk, as pure oxygen was pumped into their suits.

Jared Isaacman, the mission leader, made his way out of the hatch and grasped the hand and footholds on the “Skywalker” structure, taking in the breathtaking view of Earth below. “It's gorgeous,” he radioed to mission control in Hawthorne, California, where teams were celebrating each milestone. This achievement represented another significant accomplishment for SpaceX, the company founded by Elon Musk in 2002.

Once overlooked by the industry, SpaceX has emerged as a dominant player, achieving a significant milestone in 2020 by surpassing Boeing, a longtime aerospace leader, in delivering a spacecraft capable of transporting NASA astronauts to the International Space Station.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts, “Today's success represents a giant leap forward for the commercial space industry and NASA's long-term goal to build a vibrant US space economy.”

Prior to exiting the spacecraft, the crew underwent a crucial “prebreathe” protocol, which involved breathing pure oxygen to remove nitrogen from their bloodstream and prevent decompression sickness, a critical safety measure before venturing into space.

The cabin pressure was gradually decreased to equalize with the vacuum of space, allowing Isaacman and Sarah Gillis, a SpaceX engineer and crew member, to venture out. They spent several minutes testing the mobility of SpaceX's advanced suits, which boast innovative features like heads-up displays, helmet cameras, and enhanced joint mobility systems.

After completing their tests, the duo returned to the spacecraft, marking the end of their extravehicular activity (EVA) after an hour and 46 minutes. The cabin was then re-pressurized, officially concluding the spacewalk. While this achievement marked a significant milestone for the commercial space industry, it didn't quite rival the daring accomplishments of the early space exploration era.

Pioneering space explorers like Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov ventured further, floating away from their spacecraft while tethered, and some Space Shuttle astronauts even used jetpacks to fly untethered. In contrast, the Dragon spacecraft lacks an airlock, so the entire crew was exposed to the harsh conditions of space during the spacewalk.

Mission pilot Scott Poteet and SpaceX engineer Anna Menon remained strapped in, closely monitoring vital support systems throughout the extravehicular activity. According to former NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe, “The risk is undeniable, and it's certainly higher than any commercial space achievement to date.” He acknowledged the increased danger associated with this type of spacewalk.

The historic spacewalk was preceded by an ambitious initial phase of the mission, during which the Dragon spacecraft reached an unprecedented altitude of 870 miles. This remarkable feat placed the crew at a staggering three times higher than the International Space Station, venturing into the inner Van Allen radiation belt. This region is notorious for its intense, high-energy particles, posing significant hazards to both humans and electronic equipment.

The crew of four undertook an intensive two-year preparation period, accumulating hundreds of hours in simulators and engaging in rigorous activities such as skydiving, scuba diving, and climbing an Ecuadorian volcano. This comprehensive training regimen was designed to equip them with the necessary skills and physical conditioning to tackle the challenges of the landmark mission.

In the next phase of the mission, the crew will focus on testing cutting-edge laser-based satellite communications between the Dragon spacecraft and SpaceX's vast Starlink satellite network. Additionally, they will conduct a wide range of experiments, including testing innovative contact lenses embedded with microelectronics designed to monitor changes in eye pressure and shape in microgravity.

Polaris Dawn marks the first mission in the Polaris program, a groundbreaking collaboration between Jared Isaacman and SpaceX. While the financial terms of the partnership remain confidential, it's notable that Isaacman, the 41-year-old founder and CEO of Shift4Payments, invested a significant $200 million of his own funds to lead the historic 2021 all-civilian SpaceX Inspiration4 orbital mission, demonstrating his commitment to advancing space exploration.

The culmination of the Polaris program will be the maiden crewed voyage of SpaceX's Starship, a revolutionary next-generation rocket prototype that plays a pivotal role in Elon Musk's ambitious vision to establish a human settlement on Mars.