An employee prepares to cross the bridge from parking to SpaceX in Hawthorne, California, the United States, July 17, 2024. /CFP
SpaceX is set to embark on a mission with its first-ever private spacewalk, testing cutting-edge technology, including streamlined spacesuits and a modified spacecraft cabin without an airlock. The mission, known as Polaris Dawn, is among SpaceX's most ambitious ventures yet and aims to push the boundaries of private space exploration.
The five-day mission, set to launch on Tuesday, will be led by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, along with a retired military pilot and two SpaceX engineers. Two days into the journey, the crew will conduct a 20-minute spacewalk at an altitude of 700 kilometers above Earth, which is far higher than previous spacewalks, typically performed by government astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
One of the mission's key objectives is the spacewalk, which will take place on the third day. Preparation will begin two days in advance, with the crew undergoing a "pre-breathe" process to fill the cabin with pure oxygen, eliminating nitrogen that could cause decompression sickness, commonly known as "the bends." During the spacewalk, two astronauts will be tethered with oxygen lines, while the entire crew relies on their spacesuits for life support.
SpaceX's new mission also brings several technological advancements, including slimline spacesuits that allow the entire Crew Dragon cabin to be depressurized for the spacewalk. This unusual procedure eliminates the need for an airlock, allowing the hatch to open directly into the vacuum of space.
In addition to the spacewalk, the mission will serve as a platform for scientific experiments. The crew will monitor for nitrogen bubbles in their bloodstreams, providing researchers with valuable data on how the human body might adapt to deep space environments, such as the moon.
Four astronauts at the Kennedy Space Center for an upcoming private human spaceflight mission, Florida, the United States, August 19, 2024. /CFP
Polaris Dawn will see the Crew Dragon spacecraft travel in an elliptical orbit, reaching up to 1,400 kilometers from Earth—the furthest human spaceflight since the Apollo moon missions in 1972. During the mission, the spacecraft and crew will also test their resilience as they pass through the Van Allen belt, a region filled with charged particles that can damage electronics and affect human health.
Retired NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman noted that this mission is pushing boundaries in multiple ways, particularly with the altitude and radiation exposure, which have not been encountered since the Apollo era.
While NASA missions are subject to strict safety standards, private missions like Polaris Dawn are not governed by the same regulations. However, SpaceX officials and the crew have prepared for various emergency scenarios, such as oxygen leaks or failure to reseal the hatch, though specific contingency plans have not been disclosed.
Funded by Isaacman, the founder of payment processing company Shift4, the mission is estimated to have cost more than $100 million. Joining him on the crew are mission pilot Scott Poteet, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, both senior engineers.
(With input from Reuters)