The Polaris program stands alone in the category of private spaceflight; it is the first ever space program to be funded completely by the private sector rather than government agencies. At the heart of the program is philanthropist, pilot, and now astronaut Jared Issacman; an entrepreneur and founder of Shift4 Payments. He began his interest in space when he funded the Inspiration4 mission, which would see himself as well as 3 other individuals launched to orbit for three days aboard SpaceX vehicles in late 2021.
Shortly after this successful mission, the Polaris program was announced. Consisting of three flights, this program aims to push the boundaries of private human spaceflight ever further, starting with Polaris Dawn.
The highlight of the announcement was that Dawn would include the first ever Extravehicular Activity (EVA), also known as a spacewalk performed by a private company. SpaceX would have to develop an EVA suit, a crucial step in the company’s long-term ambitions. Polaris Dawn would also include an on-orbit test of the satellite internet system, Starlink, as well as scientific research into the effects of high-altitude spaceflight on human bodies, primarily the effects of radiation exposure.
The stage was set for one of the most innovative space missions in years, and after many delays, primarily due to weather, the four astronauts (Jarrad Issacman, Scott Poteet, Sarah Gillis, and Anna Menon) blasted off the Florida coast inside a modified SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Once safely in orbit, the crew began preparation for their historic EVA. Two days later, the awe-inspiring spacewalk began.
Live-streamed on X/Twitter, Issacman opened the spacecraft’s hatch and made his way outside to incredible sites of the Earth from over 430 miles above. Once outside, he performed several mobility tests of the new EVA suit, but not before uttering a classic inspirational space quote.
“SpaceX, back home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world.”
Once back inside, Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis, followed to perform a second set of tests. Gathering data on this new suit is one of the primary mission objectives for SpaceX, who monitored and recorded from the ground.
Photo via SpaceX.
Tests completed, hatch closed, and spacecraft pressurized, the mission could proceed to its second major event; a music performance from countries all around the world, and in space. The music in question was Rey’s Theme by John Williams, a fitting part of the Star Wars score, broadcasted to the world from the stars. In fact, this performance was the planned demonstration of SpaceX’s Starlink service, a constellation of over 4,500 satellites that can deliver internet to almost anywhere on the planet, and off the planet as it turns out.
A link to the performance can be found here, as it is available on X: https://twitter.com/PolarisProgram/status/1834557770374296010
Photo via SpaceX.
With all tests completed and successful, it was time to come home. On Sunday, September 15, the capsule streaked across the Gulf of Mexico in the fiery climax of one of the most interesting human spaceflight missions of the decade.
While certainly a small step, as nothing on this mission was particularly groundbreaking, Polaris Dawn represents an ever-expanding arsenal of tools at SpaceX’s disposal, as well as the continuously growing possibilities of commercial spaceflight. It is unfair to call Polaris space tourism, there are far lesser space programs deserving of that title, instead it sits in a new category of privately funded, scientifically driven exploration in space, and this is the kind of innovation and investment that it will take to get humanity to Mars and beyond.