ECNETNews reports that SpaceX has made history with its private astronauts conducting the first civilian spacewalk during the Polaris Dawn mission.
In an astounding feat, two astronauts partially exited a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft as it orbited Earth at speeds exceeding 25,000 kilometers per hour and an altitude of approximately 740 kilometers.
The crew initiated the air venting process at 10:31 GMT, successfully opening the hatch manually around 10:50 GMT. All participants donned SpaceX’s newly developed spacesuit model, which had undergone extensive testing on Earth but had never before been utilized in orbit.
Jared Isaacman, the mission commander and a key figure in SpaceX’s Polaris program, was the first to emerge from the capsule, observing Earth’s beauty with the remark, “From here it sure looks like a perfect world.”
Isaacman conducted various checks on his spacesuit’s mobility and safety before re-entering the craft after several minutes. Following his return, the Crew Dragon activated its thrusters to maintain optimal orbit, paving the way for SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis to perform her spacewalk.
While neither Isaacman nor Gillis fully exited the spacecraft, the event is classified as a stand-up extravehicular activity (SEVA) rather than a complete EVA. Initial promotional materials for the mission had depicted an astronaut fully outside the capsule.
This marks a significant milestone, as all prior spacewalks were executed by government-trained astronauts. The Polaris Dawn crew comprises private civilians, including retired US Air Force test pilot Scott Poteet and SpaceX engineer Anna Menon.
Isaacman previously participated in a groundbreaking SpaceX mission in 2021, which was the first orbital flight exclusively crewed by civilians, utilizing the same Crew Dragon capsule as the current mission.
SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission is regarded as one of the most perilous spacewalks attempted, given the Crew Dragon capsule’s lack of an airlock, reminiscent of early space programs from the 1960s and 1970s.
With the SEVA successfully completed, the crew is expected to spend up to two more days in orbit before making their return to Earth.
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