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Polaris Dawn

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Polaris Dawn
Mission typePrivate spaceflight
OperatorSpaceX
Websitepolarisprogram/dawn
Mission duration5 days (planned)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftCrew DragonResilience
Spacecraft typeCrew Dragon
Crew
Crew size4
MembersJared Isaacman
Scott Poteet
Sarah Gillis
Anna Menon
Start of mission
Launch dateNET31 July 2024, 05:30UTC
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5
(B1083.4)
Launch siteCape Canaveral,SLC-40
ContractorSpaceX
Orbital parameters
Periapsis altitude190 km (120 mi)
Apoapsis altitude1,400 km (870 mi) (initially)
750 km (470 mi) (later)[1]
Inclination51.6°

Mission Patch

Isaacman, Poteet, Gillis, and Menon

Polaris Dawnis a plannedprivatehuman spaceflightmission, operated bySpaceXon behalf ofShift4 PaymentsCEOJared Isaacman,[2][3]The flight will be using aCrew Dragoncapsule, and is the first of three planned missions in thePolaris program.[4]It is scheduled to launch no earlier than 31 July 2024 at 05:30UTC.[5]

History

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The Polaris program was announced byJared Isaacmanin February 2022, five months after the first all-private astronaut mission,Inspiration4,which was also financially backed by Isaacman.[6][7]Development of several technologies necessary for the mission is also part of the program, includingextravehicular activity(EVA)spacesuitsfor private astronauts, intersatellitelaser communicationlinks between theDragonspacecraft and theStarlinkconstellation, and some accommodation for the lack of anairlockin the legacy Dragon capsule design.[8]

Originally slated to fly as early as late 2022, the program suffered delays over the design of the EVA spacesuits and technical problems with SpaceX testing intersatellite laser communication links. By October 2022, the launch had already slipped to March 2023,[9][10]and by February 2023, had slipped to no earlier than mid-2023.[11][12]By mid-2023, the planned date had slipped to sometime in 2024,[13]with Isaacman confirming in December a launch date of April 2024.[8]On June 7, in an interview, Isaacman announced that the launch was scheduled to launch no earlier than July 12, 2024.[14][15]

Mission

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Polaris Dawn will be a human spaceflight to orbit Earth with only private citizens on board. The crew will consist ofJared Isaacman,Scott Poteet,Sarah Gillis,andAnna Menon,who will spend up to five days in orbit. Mission plans include reaching an orbit higher than any previous Dragon mission and ultimately the highest Earth orbit ever flown by a crewed spacecraft with an initial apogee of 1,400 km,[1][8]breaking the record set byGemini 11.[16]The crew will orbit through parts of theVan Allen radiation belt,conducting 38 science and research experiments to study the effects of spaceflight and space radiation on human health.[17]

After the Dragon has modified its orbit down to an apogee of 700 km, Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis will also attempt the first commercialEVAfor around two hours with SpaceX-designed EVA spacesuits, which were first unveiled in May 2024.[18][19]The EVA suits will operate with pure oxygen at a pressure of 5.1psia(35.2 kPa; 263.7 Torr), and are designed to be used for both intravehicular and extravehicular activities, removing the need for the usual IVA suits used during crewed missions. During the spacewalk, a camera and aheads-up display(HUD) will be used to provide information on suit metrics.[20]Flame-resistant stretch fabric material, and joints which stay soft until pressurized will help to provide greater mobility, while boots will be constructed from the thermal material used onFalcon 9's interstage andDragon's trunk. Suit upgrades from the IVA suits also include improved thermal management, and an upgraded helmet with an exterior coating that provides thermal insulation and anti-fog treatment. Anumbilicalwill provide life support for these suits, which resemble earlyGemini suits,as opposed to the more advancedEMUsused on theISS.[21][22]

Modifications will be made to the capsule's interior to withstand the vacuum, since the craft doesn't have an airlock and will be completely depressurized during the EVA. This mission will break the record for the most people in the vacuum of space at once. Two crew members will be in the depressurized craft, and the other two will be on EVA. A device called the "skywalker" will replace the cupola window used on previous missionInspiration4.It will be located at the front hatch and will have a ladder interface to assist in astronaut egress.[19][20][21]There are also a variety of experiments onboard with purposes varying from the study ofdecompression sickness(known as "the bends" ) to the study ofspaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome(SANS).[23]

This mission will be the first crewed operational test of Dragon laser interlink communication viaStarlink.If successful, it would potentially decreasecommunication latencyand increasedata bandwidthfor human spaceflight.[24]

Crew

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Prime crew
Position Astronaut
Mission commander United StatesJared Isaacman,Polaris program
Second spaceflight
Mission pilot United StatesScott Poteet,Polaris program
First spaceflight
Payload specialist United StatesSarah Gillis,Polaris program
First spaceflight
Medical officer United StatesAnna Menon,Polaris program
First spaceflight

Launch

[edit]

As of July 3, 2024, Polaris Dawn is scheduled to launch no earlier than July 31, 2024.[25]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ab"Scott Poteet Discusses Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn Missions (Part 2)".May 9, 2022.RetrievedMay 10,2022.
  2. ^Clark, Stephen (14 February 2022)."Billionaire plans three more flights with SpaceX, culminating in Starship mission".Spaceflight Now.Retrieved14 February2022.
  3. ^"Jared Isaacman, who led the first all-private astronaut mission to orbit, has commissioned 3 more flights from SpaceX".The Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.Retrieved2022-02-14.
  4. ^Sheetz, Michael (2022-02-14)."Billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman buys more private SpaceX flights, including one on Starship".CNBC.Retrieved2022-02-18.
  5. ^Szondy, David (July 3, 2024)."SpaceX's first Polaris Dawn mission to launch after July 30".New Atlas.RetrievedJuly 4,2024.
  6. ^Davenport, Christian (February 14, 2022)."Jared Isaacman, who led the first all-private astronaut mission to orbit, has commissioned 3 more flights from SpaceX".The Washington Post.RetrievedNovember 20,2023.
  7. ^Howell, Elizabeth (September 8, 2022)."SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn space crew talks about their ambitious mission".Space.RetrievedNovember 20,2023.
  8. ^abcFoust, Jeff (11 December 2023)."Polaris Dawn rescheduled for April".SpaceNews.Retrieved11 December2023.
  9. ^Howell, Elizabeth (January 30, 2023)."Polaris Dawn: The trailblazing commercial mission of the Polaris Program".Space.RetrievedNovember 20,2023.
  10. ^Young, Chris (October 19, 2023)."SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn mission could launch by March 2023".Interesting Engineering.RetrievedNovember 20,2023.
  11. ^Tribou, Richard (February 23, 2023)."Set for 2nd SpaceX flight, billionaire Isaacman all business about spacewalk for Polaris Dawn mission".Orlando Sentinel.RetrievedNovember 20,2023.
  12. ^Lea, Robert (February 23, 2023)."SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn mission now targeting summer 2023 for launch".Space.RetrievedNovember 20,2023.
  13. ^Foust, Jeff (August 22, 2023)."Polaris Dawn mission likely to slip to 2024".SpaceNews.RetrievedNovember 20,2023.
  14. ^Ellie in Space (June 7, 2024).EXCLUSIVE: Polaris Dawn interview with Jared Isaacman.YouTube.RetrievedJune 14,2024.
  15. ^"Space calendar 2024: Rocket launches, skywatching events, missions & more!".Space.June 11, 2024.RetrievedJune 14,2024.
  16. ^Sibu Kumar Tripathi (2022-02-15)."What is Polaris Dawn mission announced by SpaceX that launches Musk's astronaut corps?".India Today.Retrieved2022-02-18.
  17. ^"Polaris Dawn Selects 38 Science and Research Experiments to Advance Human Health and Space Exploration".Polaris Dawn(Press release).PR Newswire.24 October 2022.Retrieved24 October2022.
  18. ^Howell, Elizabeth (2022-02-14)."Meet the four private Polaris Dawn astronauts SpaceX will launch into orbit this year".Space.Retrieved2022-02-18.
  19. ^ab"Hi Chris ~5.1 - always the challenge but mobility and..."X.2024-05-06.Retrieved2024-05-07.
  20. ^abDinner, Josh (2024-05-06)."SpaceX reveals new EVA suit for upcoming Polaris Dawn private spaceflight (video)".Space.Retrieved2024-05-07.
  21. ^abFoust, Jeff (2024-05-04)."SpaceX reveals EVA suit design as Polaris Dawn mission approaches".SpaceNews.Retrieved2024-05-07.
  22. ^"Polaris Dawn".Polaris Program.Retrieved2024-05-07.
  23. ^Lewis, Briley (July 2, 2024)."SpaceX will attempt the first commercial spacewalk".Popular Science.RetrievedJuly 4,2024.
  24. ^"Starlink expanding, coming to Dragon capsule on Polaris Dawn, but NASA has concerns about the constellation".Space Explored.2022-02-17.Retrieved2022-02-18.
  25. ^Howell, Elizabeth (July 3, 2024)."SpaceX targeting July 31 for launch of historic Polaris Dawn astronaut mission".Space.RetrievedJuly 4,2024.
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