Non-Professional Astronauts Complete First Spacewalk on Polaris Dawn Mission

For the first time in history, non-professional astronauts ventured into space for a commercial spacewalk. As part of SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission, four private astronauts embarked on this journey, including a venture outside their spacecraft in Earth’s orbit.

The mission, funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, aimed to test new technologies for future space exploration. Alongside Isaacman, the crew included retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Scott Poteet and two SpaceX employees, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon.

During the mission, Isaacman and Gillis conducted a spacewalk, tethered to the Crew Dragon spacecraft. This historic feat also tested SpaceX’s new lightweight spacesuits, designed for improved mobility and functionality in the harsh conditions of space. The capsule was depressurized, meaning all crew members wore the suits to survive the vacuum of space.

The Polaris Dawn crew achieved another milestone by reaching an orbital altitude of 870 miles, the highest since NASA’s Apollo missions. This mission is a crucial step towards advancing the capabilities needed for long-duration space travel, including future missions to the Moon and Mars.