Polaris Dawn mission is one giant leap for private space exploration

SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission marks a significant milestone in the realm of private space exploration, showcasing capabilities that have long been within the purview of government space agencies. One standout achievement of this mission was the inaugural spacewalk, or extravehicular activity (EVA), undertaken by private individuals rather than government-affiliated astronauts.

The spacewalk on this mission carried a heightened level of risk. Distinct from the International Space Station (ISS), SpaceX’s Crew Dragon craft lacks an airlock, necessitating the complete evacuation of the capsule’s air before two crew members, Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis, embarked on their venture into the vacuum of space. Notably, this mission did not feature government-trained astronauts on the crew, marking a significant departure from traditional spacewalk protocols.

While some may view SpaceX’s achievement as a reiteration of past accomplishments, it is crucial to acknowledge the significance of this feat. “When you are doing something for the first time, it doesn’t matter that others have done it before. It’s still a first for you,” notes Laura Forczyk, an independent space industry consultant. “SpaceX’s approach involves starting from scratch and taking incremental steps, which is essential for ensuring safety.”

The spacewalk conducted on 12 September, though labeled as such, faced scrutiny from media and the public due to the astronauts not fully exiting the capsule. Instead, they engaged in a “stand-up spacewalk,” protruding their torsos out of the hatch for a brief period. Despite public perception challenges, Forczyk emphasizes that this private mission did not necessitate detailed public communication.

One primary objective of the spacewalk was to test SpaceX’s new suits, a critical component given the limited and aging supply of NASA’s current EVA suits. “SpaceX’s successful demonstration of the suit’s safety in microgravity raises the question of whether they intend to supply suits to NASA,” Forczyk comments. This test, while seemingly straightforward, could pave the way for overcoming significant hurdles in human spaceflight.

Additionally, crew members participated in various health experiments to assess the physiological effects of space travel. These studies encompassed monitoring bone and muscle deterioration, a common challenge in space, as well as conducting post-flight imaging of the explorers’ brains and organs upon their return to Earth.

“Civilian space missions like this play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of human health in space,” asserts Rihana Bokhari at the Translational Research Institute for Space Health. With an increase in private space missions, researchers stand to gather a wealth of data that can inform future space endeavors.

While the Polaris Dawn spacewalkers may not be conventional civilians—Isaacman having prior spaceflight experience and Gillis serving as SpaceX’s head astronaut trainer—they represent the closest approximation to civilian participation in an EVA. “Their successful execution of the mission underscores SpaceX’s potential to push boundaries and pioneer new frontiers in space exploration,” Forczyk observes.

The spacecraft is slated to return to Earth and splash down off the Florida coast in the upcoming days, prompting a flurry of post-mission research and evaluation. While the next flight in SpaceX’s Polaris program remains uncertain following NASA’s decision not to service the Hubble Space Telescope, the company’s rapid advancements suggest an impending convergence with government space agencies in the cosmic arena.