“Internet Entrepreneur and SpaceX Engineer Make History as First Private Astronauts to Walk in Space”
In a historic moment for space exploration, internet entrepreneur Jared Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis became the first private astronauts to walk in space. The mission, named Polaris Dawn, was funded by Isaacman, who is the founder of the online payment company Shift4. The event took place just before 7 a.m. ET when Isaacman opened the hatch of the SpaceX Dragon capsule and floated outside, followed shortly by Gillis.
During their approximately 10-minute spacewalk, Isaacman and Gillis marveled at the Earth below, marking a significant milestone as private individuals experiencing the vastness of space firsthand. The mission’s two other astronauts, Scott Poteet and Anna Menon, remained inside the capsule to provide support for the spacewalkers.
Notably, all four individuals technically engaged in spacewalking as the capsule had no air inside, making it the largest number of astronauts to ever spacewalk simultaneously, according to SpaceX. The entire spacewalk was livestreamed by the company, allowing viewers to witness this groundbreaking moment in real-time.
Traditionally, spacewalks have been conducted by professional astronauts for essential maintenance and experiments outside the International Space Station. However, Polaris Dawn represents a shift in this paradigm, with private individuals now participating in extravehicular activities previously reserved for trained astronauts.
The spacesuits used during the mission harken back to the early days of space exploration, with astronauts receiving oxygen through umbilicals similar to the Gemini missions of the 1960s. Isaacman and Gillis tested the mobility of the SpaceX spacesuits while outside the capsule, providing valuable data for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
Spacewalks are considered one of the riskiest aspects of space travel, as spacesuits must provide life support and temperature control in the harsh conditions of space. SpaceX’s successful execution of the spacewalk demonstrates the company’s commitment to advancing space exploration and developing technologies for future missions beyond Earth’s orbit.
Overall, Polaris Dawn marks a significant achievement in the realm of private space travel, paving the way for new opportunities and advancements in the field of space exploration.