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WG3K > ANS 26.08.24 02:38l 19 Lines 4315 Bytes #62 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS238.3
Read: GUEST
Subj: Polaris Dawn Set for Historic Launch and First Commercial Sp
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Sent: 240826/0134Z 7580@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24
The private astronaut mission Polaris Dawn is poised for launch on August 27, 2024, with a groundbreaking objective: the first commercial spacewalk. The four-member crew, consisting of Anna Menon, Scott Poteet, Jared Isaacman, and Sarah Gillis, arrived at the Kennedy Space Center on August 19 to finalize preparations. This mission, the first of the Polaris program, marks a significant step in commercial space exploration and is set to launch aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A.
Scheduled to last five days, the Polaris Dawn mission will propel the Crew Dragon spacecraft to altitudes reaching 1,400 kilometers, the highest for a crewed mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. The mission's objectives are multifaceted, including testing laser intersatellite links with SpaceX's Starlink satellites and conducting 40 experiments. However, the highlight will be the spacewalk, a historic first for a private mission, and the first from a Crew Dragon spacecraft. The spacewalk will involve all four astronauts, with two emerging from the hatch in new SpaceX-developed extravehicular activity (EVA) suits for a brief yet pivotal two-hour spacewalk.
[https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Polaris-Dawn-Comm...]https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Polaris-Dawn-Commercial-Spacewalk-Illustration.jpg
Polaris Dawn mission will propel the Crew Dragon spacecraft to altitudes reaching 1,400 kilometers. [Credit: @PolarisProgramhttps://x.com/PolarisProgram]
Jared Isaacman, the billionaire backing the Polaris program and commander of Polaris Dawn, emphasized the importance of the spacewalk during a press conference after arriving at KSC. "The idea is to learn as much as we possibly can about this suit and get it back to the engineers to inform future suit design evolutions," Isaacman stated. The spacewalk is scheduled for flight day three, with preparations beginning shortly after launch. The crew will undergo a prebreathing protocol to adjust the cabin's atmospheric pressure and increase oxygen levels, a process essential for the EVA.
SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis, serving as a mission specialist, detailed the crew's rigorous preparations. On flight day two, the astronauts will don the EVA suits for mobility tests inside the spacecraft. During the spacewalk, two astronauts, referred to as EV1 and EV2, will take turns exiting the spacecraft for approximately 15 to 20 minutes each. Isaacman noted that while the idea of a free-floating spacewalk was considered, the crew will instead perform a "hands-free" demonstration with their feet securely attached to the spacecraft's mobility aids, underscoring the mission's cautious approach.
[https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Polaris-Dawn-Crew...]https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Polaris-Dawn-Crew-Members-Inside-SpaceX-Crew-Dragon.jpg
Polaris Dawn private astronaut mission crew members are shown inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. [Credit: @SpaceXhttps://x.com/SpaceX]
The mission's development has been intensely focused on the spacewalk and the associated EVA suits. "The EVA probably makes up the majority of the development for Polaris Dawn," Isaacman said, acknowledging the inherent risks. SpaceX vice president Bill Gerstenmaier, formerly of NASA, confirmed that extensive safety protocols have been implemented. He mentioned a recent issue where engineers identified and resolved a static electric discharge risk, ensuring the crew's safety during the spacewalk.
Polaris Dawn's mission profile includes a launch window between 3:38 and 7:38 a.m. Eastern on August 27, carefully chosen to minimize risks from micrometeoroids and orbital debris. After reaching an initial orbit, the spacecraft will ascend to 1,400 kilometers before lowering to 700 kilometers for the spacewalk. The mission will conclude with a demonstration of Starlink capabilities on flight day four, followed by reentry on day six. As the first of three planned missions under the Polaris program, Polaris Dawn represents a significant leap forward in commercial spaceflight, setting the stage for future endeavors, including a potential crewed Starship launch.
[ANS thanks Jeff Foust, SpaceNewshttps://spacenews.com/ for the above information]
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