SpaceX launched the Polaris Dawn crew on a Falcon 9 rocket, launching humanity’s first private spacewalk. The mission will include both a spacewalk and scientific experiments such as Starlink’s laser-based communication system.
SpaceX, the US-based space transport company, includes space mission vehicles such as Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Starlink and Starship. The Falcon 9 rocket, designed in a ‘reusable structure’, set out to break new ground in human history.
POLARIS DAWN MISSION STARTED
Taking action for humanity’s first private spacewalk, SpaceX launched the Polaris Dawn crew with Falcon 9. The capsule includes US businessman Jared Isaacman and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis, Anna Mennon and pilot Scott Poteet.
The walk, which Isaacman is expected to make on Wednesday or Thursday without moving away from the capsule, is seen as ‘one of the riskiest space journeys for astronauts’. Isaacman will make the walk during his five-day journey and Gillis, Mennon and Poteet will follow this historic moment from the rocket.
As part of the Polaris Dawn mission, the crew will orbit through a radiation belt and reach the highest Earth orbit, while the crew will stand inside Crew Dragon.
SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS WILL ALSO BE CARRIED OUT
Although the focus of the mission is on spacewalking, various scientific experiments will also be carried out. Meanwhile, the mission will be the first place to test the laser-based communication of Starlink, which provides internet service from satellite.
On the other hand, Polaris Dawn is not SpaceX’s first mission under the Polaris programme. It is expected that two more missions will be realised in the future.
