Elon Musk’s SpaceX sets new records with Polaris Dawn mission

Elon Musk's SpaceX is gearing up for a groundbreaking mission known as Polaris Dawn, set to push the boundaries of space exploration by sending astronauts farther from Earth than any mission in over half a century. Scheduled to launch atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida, this mission could see the crew spending up to five days in space, according to reports from 'The U.S.Sun'.

According to an ET report, the centerpiece of Polaris Dawn is the Dragon spacecraft, slated to propel four astronauts to an initial orbital altitude of 870 miles. This milestone surpasses the heights achieved by crewed missions since the 1966 Gemini 11 and the 1972 Apollo 17 missions. While the launch date is targeted for no later than July 31, 2024, it may occur earlier depending on readiness.

The Polaris Dawn team comprises Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Anna Menon, Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis, Mission Pilot Scott Poteet, and Mission Commander Jared Isaacman. A significant challenge they face is potential radiation exposure, as the initial orbital path will traverse the inner zone of the Van Allen Belts. However, due to the highly elliptical orbit dipping to a lower altitude of 120 miles, the risk is expected to be minimal.

During their orbital journey, the crew aims to conduct a series of high-altitude activities, marking the first commercial spacewalk, testing in-orbit communications, and investigating health effects from space travel and radiation. A total of 38 scientific experiments are planned to further understand these impacts. Following these experiments, the orbit will be adjusted to 430 miles for the remainder of their stay.

The mission includes upgrading from intravehicular (IVA) suits to extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits developed by SpaceX, facilitating the crew's first private spacewalk. The Dragon spacecraft has been adapted to depressurize and open the forward hatch to support this milestone.

Post-spacewalk, the crew will test Starlink laser-based communications, crucial for advancing future space communication systems needed for lunar, Martian, and beyond missions. The mission concludes with a comprehensive scientific study aimed at enhancing human health both in space and for future long-duration spaceflights.

The mission will reach an initial orbital altitude of 870 miles, surpassing any crewed space trip since 1972.
The mission aims to perform high-altitude activities, conduct the first commercial spacewalk, test in-orbit communications, and study health effects related to space travel and radiation exposure.
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