First Private Spacewalk Conducted by Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis
Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis successfully completed the first private spacewalk as part of the Polaris Dawn mission, reaching an altitude of 870 miles. The mission tested new SpaceX spacesuits and marked a significant milestone in commercial space travel.
| Score | Value |
|---|---|
Scale | 6 |
Novelty | 9 |
Positivity | 7 |
Reliability | 8 |
Actionability | 2 |
Society | 5 |
Journalism | 4 |
Highlights
- Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis conducted the first-ever private spacewalk on September 12, 2024.
- The Polaris Dawn mission reached an altitude of 870 miles, the highest orbit achieved by humans since the Apollo missions.
- The spacewalk lasted less than two hours and involved both astronauts testing new SpaceX spacesuits.
- The Crew Dragon capsule used for the mission does not have an airlock, requiring all crew members to wear spacesuits during the spacewalk.
- This mission is part of a series of three planned flights funded by Isaacman.
Perspectives
- Some experts express concerns about the risks associated with private individuals conducting spacewalks, emphasizing the need for extensive training and the potential for accidents in this high-risk environment. [36][59][68]
- The successful completion of the private spacewalk is celebrated as a significant advancement for the commercial space industry, showcasing the potential for non-professional astronauts to participate in space exploration. [27][45][61]