SpaceX launches private mission featuring historic first all-civilian spacewalk

A SpaceX capsule carrying four private citizens launched on a five-day mission, including the first spacewalk by an all-civilian crew. The Polaris Dawn mission aims to reach an altitude of 870 miles above Earth, higher than the International Space Station, to test new spacesuits and technologies for future missions to the moon and Mars. The launch was delayed due to a helium leak and poor weather, but eventually took off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew includes billionaire Jared Isaacman, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Scott Poteet, and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. Isaacman, who previously funded an all-civilian SpaceX mission in 2021, is financing this expedition in partnership with SpaceX. The spacewalk, scheduled for the third day, will see Isaacman and Gillis exiting the spacecraft while wearing newly designed spacesuits, as the capsule will be depressurized and exposed to vacuum conditions. This mission represents a significant milestone in private space exploration and could pave the way for further advancements in space technology.

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