SpaceX’s ‘Risky Adventure’: Polaris Dawn Spacewalk
A SpaceX rocket successfully launched early Tuesday morning, carrying four astronauts on a mission to conduct the world’s first commercial spacewalk. The liftoff from Kennedy Space Center in Florida marked the beginning of one of SpaceX’s most ambitious and high-stakes ventures to date.
If all goes according to plan, in just a few days, Internet entrepreneur Jared Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis will make history by stepping out of their spacecraft to perform a spacewalk. Floating above Earth, they will be treated to a view that only professional astronauts have experienced—those involved in missions led by space agencies such as NASA. However, experts have issued warnings about the significant risks involved in this venture. Spacewalking presents challenges far greater than simply traveling inside a spacecraft or visiting the International Space Station (ISS).
For this mission, SpaceX will be testing several unproven components, including the spacesuits. Successful execution will require immense skill and composure from the astronauts, three of whom have never been to space before. The spacewalk, also known as Extravehicular Activity (EVA), is no easy feat, and conducting one on this mission is undoubtedly a “risky adventure,” says Bill Gerstenmaier, SpaceX’s vice president of build and flight reliability. As the former head of NASA’s human spaceflight operations, Gerstenmaier is acutely aware of the inherent dangers. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence in the team’s preparation, stating, “We’re going to do it as safely as we can, and we’ve got the right protocols and we’ve done the right testing to get ready.”
A Giant Leap for Private Space Travel
The mission, named Polaris Dawn, represents a significant leap forward for private space exploration. Up until now, commercial space tourists have typically only experienced brief suborbital flights with a few moments of weightlessness or, for those who can afford it, extended stays aboard the ISS. Jared Isaacman, who made headlines in 2021 for his orbit around Earth in a SpaceX capsule, is now pushing the boundaries further. As the mission commander, Isaacman has reportedly paid a large but undisclosed sum for this groundbreaking journey, which is the first of three scheduled missions under the Polaris program.
There were earlier discussions about using the second Polaris mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. However, NASA recently announced that they would not pursue this option due to concerns about the risks involved. For the current mission, all four astronauts will wear brand-new SpaceX-designed spacesuits. After purging the air from their Dragon capsule, Isaacman and Sarah Gillis will open the hatch and step out, tethered to the spacecraft by umbilical cords that provide oxygen and keep them safely connected. Meanwhile, the mission’s pilot, Scott Poteet, and medical officer Anna Menon will remain inside the capsule, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
The allure of spacewalking is undeniable, particularly for private astronauts. European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, who has completed six spacewalks, describes the experience as breathtaking. “The view is stunning,” he says. “It’s almost as if time stops for a second… it’s just so beautiful.”
Unique Risks and Challenges of Spacewalking
Despite the awe-inspiring view, spacewalking is a physically and mentally grueling experience. The suits astronauts wear are pressurized, making them stiff and difficult to move in. According to Parmitano, the discomfort only escalates during the EVA: “At one point during the spacewalk, you’re going to be hot, you’re going to be cold, your hands are going to hurt. You have to embrace the suck.”
Parmitano knows firsthand how quickly things can go wrong during a spacewalk. During a 2013 mission outside the ISS, water began leaking into his helmet from the cooling system in his suit. With no gravity to control the water, it stuck to his skin and started to encase his head, covering his eyes, ears, and nose. Unable to communicate because his radio had shorted out, Parmitano was forced to navigate back to the airlock from memory while battling the terrifying sensation of water engulfing his face. His fellow astronaut, Chris Cassidy, eventually helped him reenter the ISS, ending the spacewalk early.
Such incidents highlight the inherent dangers of EVAs. In fact, according to Jonathan Clark, a physician at Baylor College of Medicine who has advised both NASA and SpaceX on spacesuit design, around one in five spacewalks encounter some sort of issue. “Sometimes you can adapt to it, but a lot of times you’ve got to stop the EVA and come back in,” Clark explains.
Learning from Past EVA Challenges
Historically, spacewalks have been among the most perilous parts of human space exploration. Emily Margolis, a curator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, points out that spacewalking during the Gemini program of the 1960s often ended prematurely due to safety concerns. She notes that out of the nine EVAs conducted during Gemini, three were cut short due to health or safety risks. For instance, astronaut Gene Cernan was supposed to test a rocket pack to aid movement in space, but his suit’s metallic coating, designed to protect him from rocket exhaust, made it difficult for him to maneuver. As he struggled, his body overheated, causing his visor to fog up, which forced the crew to abort the mission.
Even in more recent years, despite advancements in technology, spacewalks remain challenging. The Polaris Dawn mission is no exception, particularly because none of its crew members have performed an EVA before. In fact, aside from Isaacman, the other three astronauts have never been to space at all.
The new SpaceX spacesuits, which have yet to be tested in space, will play a critical role in the success of the EVA. Unlike traditional suits, these will be cooled by air rather than water, eliminating the risk of water leakage. However, overheating, like what Cernan experienced, and fogging of the visors are still potential concerns. Furthermore, the Dragon Capsule must continue to function optimally in a vacuum without air circulation to cool its onboard computers.
Training and Preparation
Despite the risks, history shows that astronauts with little space experience can still perform admirably under pressure. Sian Proctor, who piloted Isaacman’s first mission to orbit Earth, had never flown a rocket before beginning her six-month training. Reflecting on her journey, she says, “I basically went from being a geoscience professor to being a mission pilot of a spacecraft.”
Proctor credits SpaceX for her successful preparation, and she is confident that the Polaris Dawn crew, who have trained for over two years, will be well-prepared for their mission. Sarah Gillis, one of the crewmembers, played a key role in Proctor’s training, while Scott Poteet served as mission director for her flight.
As Polaris Dawn pushes the boundaries of commercial space exploration, the mission represents not only a significant technical challenge but also an emotional and inspirational journey for the astronauts involved. For Jared Isaacman and his crew, this mission will likely pave the way for future private spacewalks and even more daring space ventures in the years to come.
