The SpaceX crew accomplished the first spacewalk ever funded by private industry, a significant step forward for private space exploration. In an orbit more than 400 miles above Earth, billionaire and mission commander Jared Isaacman and former SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis left their Crew Dragon capsule and went outside.
As a part of the Polaris Dawn program, the mission’s goal was to test new technologies. such as sophisticated spacesuits intended for upcoming commercial lunar and Martian expeditions. The extravehicular activity (EVA), or spacewalk, lasted thirty minutes. The entire operation took 2 hours which included setup and safety checks.
A NEW WEA OF PRIVATE SPACEWALK
The first person to leave the Dragon capsule while still connected to the spaceship via an umbilical cable for life support was Jared Isaacman. He used handrails for support and stayed near to the hatch. This was the first time an astronaut from outside the government had done the spacewalk.
Live streaming was available when Isaacman tested the adaptability of SpaceX’s new, slim spacesuits, which are meant to provide users with more mobility. Sarah Gillis joined him, demonstrating the suit’s versatility for both genders by carrying out comparable checks.
“This view from here is an amazing,” Isaacman said, pointing out that Earth was visible far below. “From up here, Earth looks like a perfect world.”
NEW SPACE TECHNOLOGY
This mission put several new technologies through their paces, especially SpaceX’s next-generation spacesuits. These suits are lighter and more flexible than traditional ones, designed to support future private space travelers. The Crew Dragon capsule, not originally intended for spacewalks, was depressurized to allow the EVA, which increased the mission’s risk.
Unlike the International Space Station, the capsule doesn’t have a dedicated airlock, meaning all crew members had to rely solely on the new suits for survival during the EVA(extravehicular activity).
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
The crew tested for leaks and repressurized the capsule after the spacewalk to make sure the cabin atmosphere remained steady. Following these safety inspections, mission control verified everything appeared normal, enabling the crew to take off their spacesuits and reposition their seats.
This accomplishment demonstrates SpaceX’s expanding contribution to space exploration. Elon Musk’s goal of sending more people on space exploration trips to the Moon and Mars is one step closer to reality with the success of this commercial spacewalk.
