Deepshikha Maan, Jadetimes Staff
D. Maan is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Science & Environment
First Non Professional Crew Successfully Completes Spacewalk on Commercial Mission
In a historic achievement for private space travel, billionaire Jared Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis became the first non professional crew members to conduct a spacewalk during a commercial mission. The spacewalk, which took place aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, marked a significant milestone in the advancement of private space exploration.
The spacewalk began at 11:52 BST, with Isaacman stepping out of the Dragon capsule first, followed by Gillis. Both wore specially designed extravehicular activity (EVA) suits for the mission. As Isaacman emerged from the spacecraft, he tested his suit by wiggling his limbs and expressed awe at the view of Earth, saying, "Back at home, we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world." Gillis followed, narrating her experience and reading data from the heads-up display in her helmet, a new feature in the EVA suits.
The spacewalk, originally scheduled for earlier in the day, was postponed, adding to the anticipation. The Dragon spacecraft lacks an airlock, making the entire capsule exposed to the vacuum of space during the walk a stark difference from the more conventional airlock systems used on the International Space Station.
To prepare for the walk, the crew spent two days "pre breathing" oxygen to prevent decompression sickness, commonly known as "the bends." The spacecraft was also depressurized to match the space environment, allowing for the crew's safe exit.
Dr. Simeon Barber, a research scientist at the Open University, praised SpaceX's unique approach to the spacewalk, noting that it represented a significant departure from past methods used by government-funded space agencies. He emphasized that this achievement highlights SpaceX’s willingness to innovate.
The mission, named Polaris Dawn, was funded by Isaacman, who also served as the mission's commander. He was joined by fellow crew members Scott "Kidd" Poteet, a retired Air Force pilot, and SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. Although Isaacman was the only one with prior spaceflight experience, the team worked closely to achieve the mission's objectives.
This spacewalk was conducted at a record breaking altitude of 435 miles (700 km) above Earth, surpassing the heights of previous spacewalks. The mission also set a new record for the most people in the vacuum of space at one time, with all four crew members donning their EVA suits for the operation.
The mission's spacecraft, Resilience, launched from Earth on Tuesday aboard a SpaceX rocket and was designed to reach up to 870 miles (1,400 km) in orbit the farthest humans have traveled in space since NASA's Apollo missions in the 1970s.
The success of this spacewalk underscores the growing role of private companies in space exploration. Government agencies like NASA are increasingly looking to the private sector for transportation and mission support, which could help reduce the costs of space travel. For entrepreneurs like Isaacman and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, this mission represents a significant step toward making space accessible to non-professional astronauts. However, widespread commercial space travel is still a long way off due to the high costs involved. Nonetheless, the Polaris Dawn mission’s success is a powerful indicator of the potential for future commercial space exploration, opening the door to more ambitious ventures beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
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