SpaceX’s historic Polaris Dawn crew has successfully returned to Earth after an unprecedented five-day mission that included the world’s first commercial spacewalk. The Dragon capsule made its splashdown off the coast of Florida shortly after 03:37 EDT, marking a significant milestone in commercial space exploration.
The mission was celebrated as a “giant leap forward” for the commercial space industry, with the U.S. space agency highlighting its importance. As the spacecraft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, it experienced temperatures soaring to 1,900°C (3,500°F) due to the intense friction at speeds of approximately 7,000 mph (27,000 kph).
Led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, the four-member civilian team ventured farther into space than any human has in the last fifty years. Alongside Isaacman, retired U.S. Air Force pilot Scott Poteet and SpaceX employees Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon comprised the crew. Both Isaacman and Gillis became the first non-professional astronauts to conduct a spacewalk, a highly complex maneuver that involved exiting the spacecraft while exposed to the vacuum of space.
During the breathtaking spacewalk, broadcast live to viewers, the crew emerged from the Dragon capsule at an altitude of 435 miles (700 km) above Earth. Isaacman remarked on the beauty of Earth, stating, “Back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here — looks like a perfect world.”
This groundbreaking spacewalk was enabled by state-of-the-art astronaut suits and occurred at a height greater than any previously achieved. Throughout their five days in orbit, the crew conducted over 40 scientific experiments, focusing on topics such as the effects of space on human health and testing laser communication between the Dragon spacecraft and satellites.
In a unique cultural exchange, Gillis, a trained violinist, performed “Rey’s Theme” from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which was transmitted back to Earth as part of a connectivity test for SpaceX’s satellite network.
The mission, which also aimed to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, saw the crew launch from Kennedy Space Center. With a maximum altitude of 1,400 km (about 870 miles), Polaris Dawn set a record for the highest human flight since the last Apollo mission in 1972.
This mission is the first of three planned Polaris missions, representing an innovative partnership between Isaacman and SpaceX, including the future manned flight of the developing SpaceX Starship.
