SpaceX, the US-based spacecraft-maker, is gearing up to launch the Polaris Dawn mission, a groundbreaking crewed mission that has faced multiple delays. This mission, considered one of SpaceX’s most ambitious to date, will see four crew members aboard the Dragon spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The Polaris Dawn mission aims to reach a maximum altitude of about 1,400 kilometers, making it the highest crewed mission since the Apollo era. The crew members will conduct a spacewalk at a 700-kilometer altitude, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
Led by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, the crew includes pilot Scott Poteet and mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. The mission, planned to last about five days, will involve conducting 36 experiments to better understand the effects of spaceflight and space radiation on human health.
Additionally, the crew will test SpaceX’s laser-based communications system, Starlink, in space, paving the way for future long-duration space missions and Internet connectivity. The success of the mission could lead to reduced costs for space missions and increased economic opportunities in the commercial space exploration sector.
