Polaris Dawn Crew Talks Mission Highlights, Next Steps

Crew during the five-day mission pulled off several feats—including the first civilian spacewalk—that could open new opportunities for human spaceflight.

Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 03:05 PM ET

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Polaris Dawn crewmembers (from left) Anna Menon, Sarah Gillis, and Jared Isaacman speak on a panel during the 2024 UP.Summit in Bentonville, Arkansas. [Courtesy: UP.Summit/ file photo]

Key Takeaways:

The Polaris Dawn mission, an all-civilian spaceflight led by Jared Isaacman, achieved several pioneering milestones, including the first civilian spacewalk and reaching the highest Earth orbit since the Apollo era.
Beyond these "firsts," the mission conducted nearly 40 scientific experiments focused on critical aspects of human health in space and tested key commercial technologies (like SpaceX's EVA suits and Starlink communications) essential for enabling future deep-space travel.
Polaris Dawn is the first step in Isaacman's Polaris Program to expand commercial space capabilities, aiming for future crewed Starship flights and supporting the long-term goal of human colonization of the Moon and Mars, alongside significant charitable efforts for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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BENTONVILLE, Arkansas—The first civilian spacewalk, an on-orbit symphony performance, and nearly 40 scientific research experiments. Those were just a few highlights of September’s Polaris Dawn mission: a five-day, four-person orbital spaceflight purchased from SpaceX and commanded by Jared Isaacman, the billionaire CEO of Shift4 Payments.

But Isaacman—now a SpaceX “frequent flier” after also taking part in 2021’s Inspiration4 mission, the first all-civilian spaceflight—is just getting started.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.