Kalani Tharanga, JadeTimes Staff
D.W.G. Kalani Tharanga is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Political Blogs.
A Record Breaking Journey to Space
The Polaris Dawn crew, part of a groundbreaking mission led by SpaceX, has safely returned to Earth after spending five days in orbit. Their Dragon capsule made a dramatic splashdown off the coast of Florida at 03:37 local time (07:37 GMT), as SpaceX live streamed the event. This mission marked a pivotal moment in the commercial space industry, achieving the world's first privately funded spacewalk. SpaceX shared the moment on social media with the triumphant message, "Splashdown of Dragon confirmed! Welcome back to Earth."
NASA praised the mission as "a giant leap forward" for commercial space exploration, cementing its significance in the rapidly growing space sector. The civilian team, financed and commanded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, ventured further into space than any humans have for over fifty years, reaching a peak altitude of 1,400 km (870 miles) the highest since the Apollo missions.
The four member crew consisted of Jared Isaacman, retired Air Force pilot Scott Poteet, and SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. Isaacman and Gillis made history as the first non professional astronauts to execute a spacewalk a maneuver once exclusive to government backed space agencies. Images broadcasted from the mission showed the two astronauts floating 435 miles (700 km) above the Earth's surface, an awe inspiring feat that was both risky and revolutionary.
Scientific Achievements and Unprecedented Spacewalk
Re entering Earth's atmosphere was no small feat. The Dragon spacecraft faced temperatures as high as 1,900°C (3,500°F), caused by the immense pressure and friction during its descent at speeds of 7,000 mph (27,000 kph). Despite these challenges, the crew successfully completed the first commercial spacewalk an incredible achievement made possible by newly designed astronaut suits equipped with cutting edge technology.
Throughout the five day mission, the crew completed over 40 experiments, focusing on the effects of space on human health and testing advanced intersatellite laser communication between the Dragon spacecraft and SpaceX’s Starlink satellites. In a unique display of creativity, Sarah Gillis, a trained violinist, performed “Rey’s Theme” from *Star Wars: The Force Awakens* while in orbit. Her performance was transmitted back to Earth using Starlink technology, demonstrating the potential for real time communication between space and Earth.
This mission is just the beginning of the ambitious Polaris Program, which plans two more missions, including the first manned flight of SpaceX’s highly anticipated Starship. As Polaris Dawn sets a new precedent for private space exploration, it’s clear that the boundaries of what is possible in space are expanding faster than ever before.
Comments