- SpaceX mission “Polaris Dawn” has successfully conducted the risky spacewalk.
- The two private astronauts Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis have completed their extravehicular activity in space successfully.
- The two private astronauts are already safely back in the capsule.
The spacewalk was the riskiest phase of the mission and a historic step: it is the first entirely privately funded spacewalk. At an altitude of 740 kilometers, Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis performed a twenty-minute excursion, secured with foot loops to a kind of ladder.
Therefore, they did not need a separate backpack with breathing air but would be supplied through a hose, said former astronaut Ulrich Walter. Another difference is that the spacecraft, unlike the space station, does not have an airlock for exits. Consequently, all private astronauts must slip into their space suits, as they are exposed to the vacuum of space and there is no longer any breathable air in the cabin.
Billionaire entrepreneur Isaacman is conducting the mission, which is expected to last up to five days, in coordination with SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who remained on the ground. Along with Isaacman and SpaceX employee Gillis, former jet pilot Kidd Poteet and SpaceX employee Anna Menon were aboard the Crew Dragon, launched into space from Cape Canaveral on the west coast of Florida by a Falcon 9 rocket.
As preparation, the “Polaris Dawn” crew underwent a so-called pre-breathe process. In this process, nitrogen is slowly removed from the blood to prevent the gas from forming bubbles in tissue and the bloodstream when atmospheric pressure changes.
New spacesuit for missions to the Moon and Mars
During the spacewalk, a new spacesuit for extravehicular activities was tested. This suit is said to provide greater mobility than previous suits, according to the project’s website. Additionally, it features a built-in display in the helmet, a camera, and new materials for better thermal regulation in the frigid space.
Caption:
A fascinating image: one of the two private astronauts exits the capsule in space.
Keystone/ SpaceX via AP
SpaceX intends to test the suits for future missions to the Moon and Mars. “Millions of spacesuits will be needed to build a base on the Moon and a city on Mars,” said the project planners. “The development of this suit and the execution of the spacewalk will be important steps toward a scalable design for spacesuits for future long-term missions as life becomes multiplanetary.”
The private astronauts are also expected to conduct experiments, such as those regarding the effects of space travel and space radiation on human health. A laser-based communication technology from the satellite-supported internet program Starlink is also to be tested.
Milestone in commercial space travel
The cost of the mission is not known. They are expected to be in the triple-digit million range, based on around 55 million dollars per seat on other Crew Dragon flights.
Caption:
Two days ago, the four private astronauts launched from Florida aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Keystone/ CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH
The mission is another milestone in commercial space travel. SpaceX, the company of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has gained an advantage over competitors like Boeing with its Starliner program in the race for commercial space travel. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is also involved in the lucrative business of private space travel with his company Blue Origin.