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 achieved several significant milestones, including the first civilian spacewalk, reaching the highest Earth orbit since the Apollo era, and conducting nearly 40 scientific research experiments focused on human health in space.
Commanded by Jared Isaacman, Polaris Dawn is the first of three missions under the Polaris Program, aiming to advance commercial spaceflight capabilities necessary for future widespread human presence on the moon and Mars, culminating in the first crewed flight of SpaceX's Starship.
Beyond technical achievements, the mission performed an on-orbit symphony as a demonstration of Starlink communications and contributed to charitable efforts for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, raising awareness and funds for cancer research and global access to care.

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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.