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The SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew inspired the world with music after completing a historic first commercial spacewalk outside of the Dragon spacecraft. They successfully completed the first-ever spacewalk from a Dragon spacecraft on Thursday, September 12. The historic event, which took place at an altitude of approximately 732 kilometers (km) above Earth, marked a significant milestone in the ongoing exploration of space, as it gave the crew the opportunity to test SpaceX’s new EVA (extravehicular activity) spacesuits.
The highest altitude Dragon reached was 1,400 km. “Dragon astronauts are now further from Earth than any humans in over half a century!!” announced SpaceX founder Elon Musk via X, as he shared an incredible night view of Earth’s city lights from that distance, shown below.
Dragon astronauts are now further from Earth than any humans in over half a century!! https://t.co/WTY9NkBgkX
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 11, 2024
The crew, led by Commander Jared Isaacman, began preparations for the spacewalk shortly after liftoff. The Polaris Dawn mission launched at 5:23 a.m. ET September 10 from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A two-day pre-breathe process was implemented to acclimatize the astronauts to the space environment inside Dragon, which consists of lower pressures and increased oxygen levels necessary for the EVA. Once ready, the crew donned their EVA suits, conducted suit leak checks, and depressurized the Dragon capsule.
Upon opening the hatch, the Polaris Dawn crew became the world’s first four individuals to be simultaneously exposed to the vacuum of space outside of Dragon. “Commander Jared Isaacman and Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis each exited the vehicle, completed a series of tests designed to evaluate the suit’s mobility, thermal systems and the Dragon mobility aid ‘Skywalker’ before returning to the cabin and closing the hatch. Mission Pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet and Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Anna Menon monitored vital support systems throughout the operation,” shared the company.
“SpaceX, back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world.” — Mission Commander Jared Isaacman said during Dragon egress and seeing our planet from ~738 km.
SpaceX and the Polaris Dawn crew have completed the first commercial spacewalk!
— Polaris (@PolarisProgram) September 12, 2024
“SpaceX, back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world.” — Mission Commander @rookisaacman during Dragon egress and seeing our planet from ~738 km pic.twitter.com/lRczSv5i4k
After approximately 20 minutes, they returned to the Dragon and closed the hatch. The capsule was then repressurized, and the crew removed their EVA suits, officially completing the suit testing and marking the world’s first commercial spacewalk and the first EVA from a Dragon spacecraft.
The Polaris Dawn crew brings together a diverse range of expertise and experience. Isaacman, a seasoned entrepreneur, previously commanded the Inspiration4 mission. Poteet, Gillis, and Menon are making their first human spaceflight journeys, notably, the two females are SpaceX employees, offering valuable insights into future missions and the company’s efforts to make life multiplanetary.
Today, September 13, the Polaris Dawn crew shared about some of the ~40 science and research experiments being conducted during their multi-day mission, shown in the video linked below.
Join the Polaris Dawn crew to learn details behind some of the ~40 science and research experiments being conducted during the mission. Many of these experiments will provide valuable data regarding human health in space ahead of future long-duration space missions pic.twitter.com/yw89eGf11U
— Polaris (@PolarisProgram) September 13, 2024
Besides performing scientific research, the crew partnered with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and musicians from ‘El Sistema’, an organization that aims for children to have access to high-quality music education that celebrates their voice. Student musicians from around the world played a beautiful rendition of “Rey’s Theme” by John Williams to inspire children to dream big. Watch the inspiring video linked below. “Rey’s Theme” is a musical composition from the Star Wars film franchise.
HARMONY OF RESILIENCE: Recorded in space and sent to Earth via @SpaceX’s @Starlink constellation, Polaris Dawn crewmember and violinist @Gillis_SarahE invites you to enjoy this music moment in support of @StJude & @ElSistemaUSA → https://t.co/My8cUwAWzg pic.twitter.com/OoxTllCZNP
— Polaris (@PolarisProgram) September 13, 2024
Once upon a dream pic.twitter.com/W0EGxKQL4r
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 13, 2024
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