SpaceX set to broadcast second attempt at launching groundbreaking private spacewalk operation (updated)
Ready for an unprecedented space adventure? The Polaris Dawn crew, spearheaded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, is all set to make history as they attempt to embark on the maiden civilian spacewalk.
Scheduled for a blast-off aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon, propelled by a mighty Falcon 9 rocket, the launch is penned for 3:38 a.m. ET on August 28, pending any unexpected hiccups. Should SpaceX need to push back the launch, backup times are available at 5:23 a.m. and 7:09 a.m. on the same day. In the off chance that a launch during those times isn't feasible, the crew will take flight the following morning.
Tune in to the exciting livestream beginning 3.5 hours before liftoff on SpaceX's official website and via X.
The mission aims to break records—literally. If successful, the Crew Dragon capsule will reach a remarkable altitude of 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) above Earth, shattering the existing record held by the 1966 Gemini XI mission. This feat would also mark the highest altitude a Dragon capsule has ever reached.
The crew plans to stay in orbit for up to five days, engaging in over 30 research studies and experiments. Highlights of these projects encompass gathering data on radiation conditions in space and conducting human survival experiments. The pièce de résistance of the mission will be the historic first-ever spacewalk by private citizens, previously only conducted by astronauts from government space agencies.
During the spacewalk, the crew will test SpaceX's brand-new extravehicular activity (EVA) space suit. This suit is a modified version of SpaceX's intravehicular activity suit, designed with enhanced mobility and boasting features like 3D-printed helmets that help combat sunlight glare, state-of-the-art heads-up displays, and cameras. The suit was unveiled by SpaceX in May after years of delays.
The crew will also test out Starlink's laser-based communications in space. The ultimate goal is to develop this system for use in future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
join Isaacman on this groundbreaking mission. Along with supporting the mission, Isaacson is also footing the bill for two additional Polaris missions, with the final mission hoped to be the first crewed mission aboard SpaceX's Starship reusable transport system. Launch dates for these follow-up missions are yet to be announced.
For the most recent updates on Polaris Dawn, check out SpaceX's official website or keep tabs on trusted space news outlets. And remember: Keep your eyes to the skies—history is about to be made!
While the search results do not provide specific information about the launch status or backup times for the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission, they do mention other SpaceX missions and activities, such as the Crew-9 mission, which launched successfully on September 28, 2024, and the upcoming Fram 2 mission planned to explore polar orbits.
- The Polaris Dawn mission, forecasted to break space and science records, is set to use technology from SpaceX's Starship reusable transport system, with its launch dates yet to be announced.
- In a quite unprecedented feat, the Polaris Dawn crew is predicted to conduct the first-ever spacewalk by private citizens, engaging in experiments at altitudes never before reached by a Dragon capsule, around 870 miles above Earth.
- Apart from the historic spacewalk, the Polaris Dawn mission will also involve testing an innovative extravehicular activity (EVA) space suit, designed with enhanced mobility and advanced features, including 3D-printed helmets and state-of-the-art heads-up displays.
- SpaceX's Fram 2 mission, planned to explore polar orbits, is another demonstration of the company's technology ventures in space, following the successful launch of the Crew-9 mission on September 28, 2024.
