Polaris Dawn Will Make First Commercial Astronauts in Space

The Polaris Dawn mission launch window officially opened on September 10. The spacecraft will send its four-member crew into orbit to attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk.

The mission was originally supposed to launch on August 26, but was switched to August 27 for additional preflight checks. A helium leak in equipment designed to detach from the rocket caused a second delay. The third and most recent delay, on August 28, was due to adverse weather conditions affecting the crew’s return.

The FAA also grounded the mission’s Falcon 9 after it failed an attempt to land back on Earth during a routine Starlink mission. SpaceX was granted the option to continue flight tests during this period and was recently given the green-light to resume launches as normal.

After three weeks of final preparations at the Kennedy Space Center, SpaceX believes that the Polaris Dawn and its Falcon 9 spacecraft are finally ready for liftoff.

The crew will be sent higher than any human has been in over 50 years. They will spend five days in orbit conducting nearly 40 scientific experiments focused on understanding human physiology in extended spaceflight. They will also test a new laser-based satellite communication system using Starlink. Then, as a last hurrah, the crew will attempt a historic spacewalk using SpaceX-designed extravehicular activity (EVA) suits.

Jared Isaacman, leader of the 2021 all-civilian Inspiration4 mission, will command the Polaris Dawn.

“Space exploration demands patience, resilience, and teamwork. We are deeply grateful for the dedication of everyone involved and for the support of those who believe in our mission,” stated Isaacman. “Together, we are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and continuing humanity’s journey to the stars.”

The launch window opened at 3:38 am EDT on September 10th and extended over four hours, with options for 5:23 am and 7:09 am liftoffs. Another window is available on Wednesday at the same times.

The Polaris Dawn mission launch will be live-streamed on X starting approximately three-and-a-half hours before liftoff.

FMI: www.spacex.com