Joe
Pilot and philanthropist Jared Isaacman is set to make history on this morning as he leads the Polaris Dawn space mission, departing from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The mission, conducted in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, aims to go farther from Earth than any space tourist has before.
Isaacman, 41, will also become the first private citizen to perform a spacewalk, a significant milestone in space exploration. The mission plans to ascend 17 miles beyond the highest altitude reached by astronauts who did not continue on to the moon.
Isaacman, who previously funded a three-day space trip in 2021 estimated to cost $200 million, has not disclosed the financial details of this five-day venture, though it is believed to exceed the previous amount.
Joining Isaacman on this mission are three crew members: Scott “Kidd” Poteet, a former Air Force pilot and close friend of Isaacman, and SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. The team aims to reach an altitude of approximately 870 miles.
While the mission is classified as space tourism, it is also a collaborative effort with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, focusing on research objectives. The mission stands out due to its extended duration, inherent risks, and ambitious goals.
“They’ll be going to the Van Allen radiation belt, which protects the Earth from radiation,” said Douglas Messier, a space exploration expert.
The area is filled with high-energy particles, and the mission’s spacecraft has been designed to protect the crew. The team will measure radiation exposure, providing valuable data for future missions to the moon and Mars.
On the third day of the mission, Isaacman and Gillis are scheduled to open the hatch of the Crew Dragon capsule, making them the first space tourists to be exposed directly to the outer space environment, another groundbreaking achievement in space exploration.
PeakNews Online
