Jared Isaacman Breaks New Ground with First Private Spacewalk
In a historic leap for private space exploration, billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman has become the first non-professional astronaut to walk in space. This remarkable achievement took place during the Polaris Dawn mission, a groundbreaking venture spearheaded by Isaacman himself. As he floated outside the spacecraft, Isaacman reflected on the beauty of Earth, stating, "Back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here Earth sure looks like a perfect world."
The Polaris Dawn mission, launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marked a significant milestone not only for Isaacman but also for the commercial space industry. The mission, which also included SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis, is the second privately-crewed mission by SpaceX. The spacecraft, aptly named Resilience, is set to orbit Earth at an altitude reaching up to 870 miles—an unprecedented height since the Apollo missions concluded in the 1970s.
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Isaacman, a 41-year-old tech entrepreneur and founder of the electronic payment company Shift4, funded the Polaris Dawn mission. His commitment to pushing the boundaries of space travel is evident in the scope and ambition of the project. The spacewalk, a challenging endeavor typically reserved for seasoned astronauts, was executed with Isaacman becoming the first to exit the capsule. His exit was captured through a body camera, which showed his ascent through the narrow opening and his awe-inspiring view of space.
The mission faced a brief delay of about four hours before the spacewalk, attributed to final safety checks of the spacesuits and equipment. Once cleared, Isaacman and Gillis, both testing the new, slimmer SpaceX spacesuits, ventured into the void of space. They each conducted mobility tests, examining how the new suits performed in the microgravity environment.
Gillis followed Isaacman into space, performing her own set of tests to evaluate the suit's functionality. The spacewalk lasted approximately 30 minutes, during which the astronauts maintained constant contact with the capsule using tethers. The success of this spacewalk represents a giant leap forward in commercial spaceflight, underscoring the increasing role of private companies in space exploration.
The Polaris Dawn mission is not only a testament to Isaacman's vision but also a significant step toward making space more accessible. With plans for future missions, including deeper space explorations and potential space tourism, this mission marks the beginning of a new era in space travel.
Isaacman’s accomplishment is particularly notable given that only government astronauts had previously conducted spacewalks. The achievement highlights the ongoing shift from government-led to privately funded space exploration, setting the stage for future advancements and opportunities in the field.
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