In a historic leap for private space travel, billionaire Jared Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis have become the first non-professional astronauts to perform a spacewalk, executing one of the most perilous maneuvers in space exploration. This groundbreaking achievement, a part of the Polaris Dawn mission funded by Isaacman, marks a significant milestone for private spaceflight and innovation.
On a crisp Thursday morning, the SpaceX Dragon capsule floated 435 miles (700km) above Earth, offering a breathtaking view of the planet below. At precisely 11:52 BST, Isaacman, who has previously traveled to space, made the first move. Clad in a specially-designed extravehicular activity (EVA) suit, Isaacman tested the suit’s flexibility and functionality as he gingerly floated outside the spacecraft. His initial steps were followed 15 minutes later by Gillis, who, while new to spacewalking, performed her duties with a remarkable blend of professionalism and excitement.
The spacewalk, originally scheduled for 07:23 BST, was delayed due to meticulous preparations. The crew had spent two days “pre-breathing” to avoid decompression sickness, a common hazard of spacewalks. This process involved replacing nitrogen in their blood with oxygen to acclimate their bodies to the changing pressure. The Dragon capsule, lacking a traditional airlock, required precise depressurization to match the space vacuum conditions.
This mission showcased a very different approach from previous spacewalks. Traditionally, astronauts conducted spacewalks from space stations like the International Space Station (ISS), which feature airlocks to separate the spacecraft from the vacuum of space. In contrast, the SpaceX Dragon capsule, which was fully exposed to the void outside, represented a novel and riskier design. Dr. Simeon Barber, a research scientist at the Open University, highlighted this difference, noting that SpaceX’s innovative method underscores the company’s willingness to break away from traditional practices.
Isaacman and Gillis were not alone on this mission. The Polaris Dawn crew also included Anna Menon, a SpaceX engineer, and Scott ‘Kidd’ Poteet, a retired Air Force pilot. The mission, which utilized upgraded EVA suits equipped with a heads-up display to monitor suit conditions, set a new record for the most people in the vacuum of space at one time. These suits, an advancement from SpaceX’s previous intravehicular activity (IVA) suits, are designed to be versatile and comfortable for various phases of space travel, including launch and landing.
The mission, which departed Earth on a SpaceX rocket, is part of a broader effort by private companies and entrepreneurs like Isaacman and Elon Musk to expand the realm of space travel beyond government agencies. The Polaris Dawn mission is expected to reach up to 870 miles (1,400km) in orbit, further than any human has been since the end of NASA‘s Apollo program in the 1970s.
While the private sector’s role in space travel is growing, with government agencies like NASA increasingly relying on private companies for transportation, the high costs of space exploration remain a significant barrier. Nevertheless, milestones like this spacewalk pave the way for future advancements and symbolize a major step forward in making space more accessible to non-professional astronauts.
As Isaacman observed from the vacuum of space, “Back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here Earth sure looks like a perfect world.” This sentiment captures the awe and wonder that continue to drive the quest for new frontiers in space, heralding a future where private space travel could become a regular part of human experience.
