Billionaire prepares for historic five-day mission, aiming to be first private citizen to attempt a spacewalk
Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur known for his contributions to space exploration, is set to make history on Tuesday as he spearheads the Polaris Dawn space mission.?
Departing from Cape Canaveral, Florida, Isaacman will lead a four-person crew aboard SpaceX¡¯s Crew Dragon capsule. This mission will take the crew further from Earth than any space tourist has ever ventured.?
According to the New York Post, this endeavor also positions Isaacman, 41, to become the first private citizen to conduct a "spacewalk."
'They are not really going to walk'
Isaacman, who previously financed a three-day space journey in 2021 with an estimated price tag of $200 million, has not disclosed the cost of this five-day mission.
However, it is believed that the expenditure surpasses his previous one. Joining him on this journey are former Air Force pilot Scott "Kidd" Poteet and SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. Together, they aim to reach an altitude of around 870 miles, pushing the boundaries of space tourism.
Although Polaris Dawn is a space tourism mission, it also serves as a collaborative effort with Elon Musk¡¯s SpaceX to conduct valuable research. Unlike many other space trips, this mission involves prolonged exposure to space and various associated risks.?
Douglas Messier, former editor of Parabolic Arc, noted that the crew will travel into the Van Allen radiation belt, an area dense with high-energy particles. To protect the crew from these dangerous conditions, the spacecraft has been specially designed with advanced shielding, and the team will perform essential measurements for future lunar and Martian explorations.
On the mission¡¯s third day, Isaacman and Gillis are expected to make history by opening the Crew Dragon¡¯s hatch, allowing them to experience the space environment firsthand.
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?While this event has been described as a spacewalk, former NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson clarified, "They are not really going to walk. But it¡¯s going to be an awesome view."?
The Extravehicular Activity suits, specifically designed by SpaceX for this mission, offer greater flexibility and include a heads-up display integrated into the helmet.?
Despite some criticisms surrounding billionaire-backed space ventures, Anderson recognized the importance of figures like Musk in driving space exploration forward, stating, ¡°The important thing is that Elon is making things happen.¡±
Understanding the concept of a spacewalk
According to NASA's official website, a spacewalk occurs whenever an astronaut exits a vehicle while in space. Also known as an extravehicular activity (EVA), a spacewalk is a crucial part of many space missions.
The first-ever spacewalk was conducted by Russian astronaut Alexei Leonov on March 18, 1965, lasting 10 minutes. The first American to perform a spacewalk was Ed White on June 3, 1965, during the Gemini 4 mission, with his spacewalk lasting 23 minutes.
?Today, astronauts frequently perform spacewalks outside the International Space Station (ISS), typically lasting between five and eight hours depending on the task.?
The world record for the most spacewalks is held by Russian astronaut Anatoly Solovyev, who completed 16 spacewalks totaling over 82 hours¡ªalmost 3 ? days outside in space.?
In the U.S., four NASA astronauts¡ªMichael Lopez-Alegria, Peggy Whitson, Bob Behnken, and Chris Cassidy¡ªshare the record for the most spacewalks, each having completed 10. Of these, Michael Lopez-Alegria has spent the most time outside, with a total of over 67 hours.
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