SpaceX Launches Risky Mission: Polaris Dawn Crew to Brave Radiation Belts
SpaceX is set to embark on a daring mission this week, sending a crew of four private astronauts on a five-day voyage into Earth's radiation belts. The Polaris Dawn mission, named after the North Star, will see the crew travel further into space than any human since the Apollo programme, pushing the boundaries of commercial space exploration.
The mission is set to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, with a launch window between 3:38 and 7:09 a.m. ET. The crew comprises Jared Isaacman, the billionaire founder of Shift4 Payments, who previously flew on the Inspiration4 mission in 2021; two SpaceX engineers, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, the first from the company to embark on an orbital mission; and Scott "Kidd" Poteet, a former US Air Force pilot and long-time friend of Isaacman.
The crew possesses extensive experience in aviation and space-related fields. All four have a background in piloting jet aircraft, a common requirement for astronauts, while Menon and Gillis have worked closely with and trained NASA astronauts.
Once launched, the Polaris Dawn crew will enter an elliptical orbit, stretching as far as 870 miles (1,400 kilometres) from Earth, taking them into the Van Allen radiation belts, a region of intense radiation surrounding our planet. This will be the first time a human has travelled this far into space since the Apollo missions.
The mission aims to set a new record for the highest orbit achieved by a crewed mission, aiming to surpass the 853 miles (1,373 kilometres) reached by NASA's Gemini 11 in 1966, by a further 20 miles (32 kilometres). Anna Menon will also become the first woman to reach such a high orbit, alongside her fellow crew member Sarah Gillis.
Another significant highlight of the mission is a planned spacewalk, scheduled for early Thursday. This ambitious endeavour would mark the first time civilians, or nongovernment astronauts, have conducted a spacewalk. The crew will be using SpaceX's Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suits, which were developed in just two-and-a-half years.
The Polaris Dawn crew will carry out a range of scientific experiments during the five-day mission, including research on space adaptation syndrome, a form of severe motion sickness common in spaceflight. This data will be valuable in understanding the biological effects of space travel and preparing for future missions.
The mission's objectives are ambitious, and the crew faces significant risks, including the intense radiation environment of the Van Allen belts and the dangers of re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, where the spacecraft's exterior heats to over 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,649 degrees Celsius).
While the risks are substantial, the Polaris Dawn mission represents a major step in the progression of private space exploration. It showcases SpaceX's commitment to innovation and its vision for human space travel beyond Earth, providing invaluable experience and data for future missions.
