Polaris Dawn Crew Prepares for Historic Spacewalk on Thursday

Billionaire Jared Isaacman, alongside SpaceX crew trainer Sarah Gillis, is set to embark on a historic milestone in space exploration this Thursday. They plan to open the forward hatch of their Polaris Dawn spacecraft and conduct the first non-governmental spacewalk.

The duo will be assisted by crewmates Anna Menon and Scott Poteet, who will monitor safety tethers and vital systems from inside the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The spacewalk is scheduled for approximately 2:23 a.m. EDT, using a specially designed “Skywalker” structure extending from the hatch for stability.

While Isaacman and Gillis will be positioned just outside the hatch, they will not completely detach from the Crew Dragon. Their SpaceX-designed suits lack individual oxygen supplies and depend on 12-foot-long umbilicals for air, power, and communication.

During the spacewalk, Isaacman and Gillis will assess the comfort and maneuverability of their suits by performing various movements to understand the effort required for basic tasks in space.

“It will look like we’re doing a little dance,” remarked Isaacman ahead of the launch. “The idea is to gather as much data as possible about the suit’s performance for future design improvements.”

Several cameras will capture the breathtaking views of space and Earth as the Crew Dragon orbits at an altitude between 121 miles and 458 miles—200 miles higher than the International Space Station.

The results of this exercise aim to help create cost-effective, easily manufactured spacesuits for upcoming commercial astronauts destined for lunar or Martian missions on SpaceX’s Super Heavy-Starship rockets.

“Building affordable EVA suits that can be mass-produced is vital,” Isaacman stated, emphasizing the necessary evolution in space exploration. “One day, we will see numerous Starships on Mars, and those astronauts must be able to engage in essential activities outside their vehicles.”

Launching from Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Isaacman, Poteet, Menon, and Gillis have already achieved a significant milestone for the mission, reaching an altitude of 870 miles—the highest for a piloted spacecraft since the Apollo era.

The orbit was then adjusted to 458 miles for the scheduled spacewalk and the remainder of the five-day mission.

To avoid decompression sickness during their transition to the reduced pressure in their suits, the team has initiated a 45-hour process to enhance cabin oxygen levels while gradually decreasing air pressure to minimize nitrogen in their bloodstreams.

“Our extensive pre-breathe protocol significantly reduces risks for decompression sickness,” said Menon, a former NASA biomedical flight controller. “But we are ready to manage any potential issues.”

Without an airlock or a life support system designed for spacewalks, the Crew Dragon had to undergo several modifications, including increased oxygen supplies and enhanced environmental sensing systems to monitor conditions during the spacewalk.

“We’ve integrated upgrades to ensure we can maintain a safe environment for the suits throughout the operations,” Gillis explained.

Improvements also included the addition of a motor-driven system to assist with hatch operations and reinforced seals for an airtight fit.

Historical context reveals that the first U.S. spacewalk was conducted by NASA astronaut Ed White on June 3, 1965. Since that time, over 470 government-sponsored spacewalks have taken place by various countries.

Isaacman, inspired by the iconic imagery of White in space, clarified that they will not be floating freely from the Crew Dragon. This decision is backed by their mission’s objectives to enhance the understanding of the suits’ capabilities.

“We’re not going to perform the Ed White float,” Isaacman affirmed. “This serves our purpose better for learning how to work effectively in the suits.”

The plan involves executing a series of motions to evaluate suit performance, including features such as a heads-up display in the helmet and the ability of the suits to manage extreme temperature variations in space.

The suits feature advanced technology, including a helmet camera and innovative joint mobility, designed to ensure astronaut safety and efficiency. Additionally, a heads-up display will project critical data during the EVA, offering insights into suit conditions in real-time.

This Polaris Dawn mission marks the first of three planned missions led by Isaacman in collaboration with SpaceX. The subsequent flights include another Crew Dragon mission and the first crewed test flight of SpaceX’s Super Heavy-Starship rocket under development in Texas.

The financial details of these missions remain undisclosed, with Isaacman withholding specific information about the costs associated with the flights.

Expected to last five days, this mission is SpaceX’s fifth commercial Crew Dragon flight to orbit, culminating in a splashdown off the coast of Florida.