All You Need to Know About the Polaris Dawn Mission

Elon Musk has been in the spotlight for his innovative ideas and groundbreaking projects, such as SpaceX and Tesla. Recently, the innovation-driven businessman launched the Polaris Dawn, a five-day mission.

It was the first of three test and development missions Isaacman and Elon Musk’s SpaceX will jointly carry out as part of the Polaris program, which aims to create new technologies that could be used to one day send humans to Mars.

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On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Florida, carrying American millionaire Jared Isaacman and three others into space for the world’s first private spacewalk.

What is a spacewalk?

A spacewalk, also known as an extravehicular activity (EVA), is when astronauts leave a spacecraft and operate in the vacuum of space. During a spacewalk, astronauts are in microgravity, which means they float freely and experience a near-weightlessness state.

They wear specialized suits called Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs) that provide life support, including oxygen, temperature control, and protection from the harsh conditions of space, including extreme temperatures and radiation.

Spacewalks are usually done to make repairs, install new equipment or conduct scientific experiments on the outside of a spacecraft or space station. During these activities, astronauts must carefully tether themselves to the spacecraft to prevent drifting in the microgravity environment.

What is the Dawn North Star mission?

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Polaris Dawn is the first mission of the Polaris program, one of a series of three planned missions funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman. The mission is set to launch on September 10, 2024 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and is designed to achieve several important milestones in commercial space exploration.

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Polaris Dawn is the first mission of the Polaris program, one of a series of three planned missions funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman. The mission is set to launch on September 10, 2024 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and is designed to achieve several important milestones in commercial space exploration.

The original date was August 28, 2024, but was postponed due to a helium leak. The date was postponed again due to bad weather near Florida. The spacecraft lifted off from Florida on Tuesday, carrying American millionaire Jared Isaacman and three others into orbit to attempt the world’s first private spacewalk.

What is the goal of the Polaris Dawn mission?

First Commercial Spacewalk: Polaris Dawn will conduct the first commercial extravehicular activity (EVA) using a SpaceX-designed spacesuit, marking a major advancement in private space exploration capabilities.

High Altitude: The mission will take the crew to an altitude of about 700 kilometers above Earth, into the inner Van Allen radiation belt, an altitude not reached by humans since the Apollo missions in the 1970s.

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Science Research: The mission will conduct a variety of science experiments focused on human health and performance in space, including testing telemedicine capabilities and collecting essential health data needed for future long-duration lunar and Mars missions. Collaborations with NASA’s Human Research Program and the Translational Research Institute for Space Health, among others, are part of this effort.

Testing new technology: Polaris Dawn will also test Starlink laser-based space communications, which could enhance communications systems for future deep space missions.

Who are the crew members of the Polaris Dawn mission?

The crew of the Polaris Dawn consists of four members:

1. Jared Isaacman: Mission Commander and founder of Shift4 Payments; he previously commanded the Inspiration4 mission and funded the Polaris program.
2. Scott “Kid” Poteet: A retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and experienced pilot with extensive flying experience who worked closely with Isaacman.
3. Sarah Gillis: SpaceX’s lead space operations engineer, responsible for astronaut training and with a background in mission control operations.
4. Anna Menon: She is also the Chief Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX and has a background in biomedical engineering and has worked with NASA on the International Space Station.

What is the main goal of Project Polaris?

Project Polaris was founded by billionaire Jared Isaacman and is a series of private manned space missions using SpaceX technology. The main goals of the program include:

1. Advancing Human Health Research: Each mission is designed to conduct scientific experiments to increase understanding of human health in space. This includes studying the effects of microgravity on the human body and testing how drugs are processed in orbit. The first mission, Polaris Dawn, will involve 38 research experiments focusing on areas such as changes in eye structure and the effects of space radiation on health.
2. Demonstrating SpaceX Technologies: The program is designed to validate and demonstrate various SpaceX technologies, including the use of Starlink laser communications and the development of new spacesuits for commercial extravehicular activities (EVA). Polaris Dawn will attempt the first commercial spacewalk to test these new spacesuits in the vacuum of space.
3. Achieving Space Milestones: These missions are designed to achieve major milestones in space exploration, such as reaching the highest Earth orbit in human spaceflight history, surpassing the record of 853 miles (1,373 kilometers) set by Gemini 11. This will enhance the capabilities of private spaceflight.
4. Charitable Contributions: The program also has a charitable nature and plans to raise funds for good causes such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through these missions.
5. Preparing for Future Exploration: The ultimate goal of the Polaris program is to lay the foundation for deeper space exploration, including potential missions to the Moon and Mars. The third mission is expected to use SpaceX’s Starship, marking an important step in making space more accessible to humans.

What challenges might Project Polaris face?

Although the Polaris program is ambitious and promising, it may face many challenges in the process of implementing its planned mission. The main challenges include:

1. Technical and Engineering Hurdles: Developing new technologies, such as custom-built extravehicular spacesuits and Starlink communications systems for spacewalks, presents significant engineering challenges. Ensuring these systems are safe, reliable, and effective in the harsh environment of space is critical, especially since Polaris Dawn aims to conduct the first commercial spacewalk.
2. Radiation Exposure: The Polaris Dawn mission will be conducted at high altitudes, where the crew will be exposed to elevated levels of cosmic radiation, especially at an altitude of approximately 1,400 km from Earth. Understanding and mitigating the health risks associated with this radiation is critical both for crew safety and for collecting accurate scientific data.
3. Funding and Financial Viability: Although the Polaris program is funded by Jared Isaacman, maintaining the financial viability of future missions may be a challenge. The program needs to ensure that there are stable customers and investors interested in space tourism and related projects to support its ambitious goals.
4. Regulatory and safety compliance: The regulatory environment for commercial spaceflight is complex. The Polaris program must comply with a variety of safety regulations and standards set by agencies such as NASA and the FAA. If additional requirements arise during the mission planning and execution phases, this could result in delays and increased costs.
5. Public and Stakeholder Interest: Maintaining public interest in the project and its mission is critical to continued support and funding. The project must effectively communicate its goals, achievements, and research results to maintain enthusiasm and engagement from the public and potential investors.
6. Dependence on SpaceX: The Polaris program is heavily dependent on the launch and operational capabilities of SpaceX. Any delays or issues with SpaceX’s technology or launch schedule could directly impact the Polaris mission, resulting in potential setbacks to schedules and goals.

How will Project Polaris ensure crew safety?

The Polaris program is taking several key steps to ensure crew safety during the ambitious Polaris Dawn mission and future flights:

1. Strict training and selection

• The crew went through the same extensive training that NASA astronauts undergo, including specific topics for the Polaris Dawn mission objectives and experiments.
• SpaceX has developed a new medical training program for crew members, similar to the one NASA astronauts receive.
• The crew was carefully selected to meet the mission objectives, with each member’s background well suited to the challenges ahead.

2. Spacecraft and spacesuit testing

• The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule has been rigorously tested to ensure its avionics can withstand the harsh radiation environment the crew will encounter.
• The new spacesuits designed by SpaceX for the first commercial spacewalks have been extensively tested and trained on by astronauts.

3. Mission Planning and Execution

• The mission schedule was carefully planned to limit the crew’s exposure to the inner Van Allen radiation belts to a maximum of 5-6 days, the limit of the spacecraft’s life support systems.
• To ensure a safe splashdown, SpaceX must ensure calm seas and low winds during the critical reentry phase.
• There is a 60% chance that the mission will encounter adverse launch conditions, so both launch and return will require suitable weather.

4. Continuous monitoring and research

• Crew members will wear radiation monitoring equipment that systematically records radiation levels for comparison with previous missions.
• The biological effects of radiation will be studied by comparing the health of the crew members before, during and after the mission.
• The diverse composition of male and female crew members provides valuable data on potential gender differences in the effectiveness of space flight.

By rigorously training crews, thoroughly testing spacecraft and spacesuits, carefully planning missions, and conducting important radiation research, the Polaris program prioritizes crew safety while advancing commercial spaceflight. The lessons learned will inform future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

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