SpaceX Polaris Dawn Mission Overview

What milestone did SpaceX achieve with the Polaris Dawn mission?

What altitude did the Polaris Dawn mission reach, setting a new record?

Who served as the mission leader for Polaris Dawn?

What was the main purpose of reaching high altitudes during the Polaris Dawn mission?

What innovative feature was lacking in the new SpaceX spacesuits worn by the astronauts?

Which two crew members made history during the Polaris Dawn mission?

What significant activity did Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis perform during the Polaris Dawn mission?

Where did the Dragon capsule splash down after the Polaris Dawn mission?

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, the first of three under the Polaris program, successfully completed a five-day flight.
The mission involved a crew of all civilian astronauts.

Mission Details

The Dragon capsule launched from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on September 10, 2024.
The mission leader was Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur.
The crew also included SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, and retired US Air Force pilot Scott Poteet.
The spacecraft reached a peak altitude of 870 miles (1,400 km) above Earth on September 11, 2024, surpassing the previous record held by NASA's Gemini 11 mission.
This high-altitude flight was designed to assess the impact of increased radiation levels on the Dragon capsule and crew, vital for future lunar and deep-space missions.
The spacecraft then descended to a cruising altitude of 435 miles (700 km).

First Civilian Spacewalk

On September 12, 2024, Isaacman and Gillis conducted the first-ever civilian spacewalk.
This was a critical test of the new SpaceX spacesuits, which lacked traditional life support systems.
The astronauts were tethered to the spacecraft by a 12-foot-long cord providing oxygen.
The spacewalk lasted 10 minutes and was successful.

Mission Conclusion

The mission concluded on September 15, 2024, with the Dragon spacecraft and crew splashing down into the Gulf of Mexico.
Post-flight medical assessments are underway to study the effects of space travel on the astronauts.

Explore the groundbreaking Polaris Dawn mission by SpaceX, which featured an all-civilian crew and set new altitude records. Learn about the mission's objectives, notable crew members, and the significance of its high-altitude flight for future space exploration. Discover how this mission could pave the way for lunar and deep-space endeavors.