What Is Polaris Dawn? Breaking Down the Upcoming SpaceX Mission

SpaceX reveals its first-generation extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits, designed to be worn in the vacuum of space as well as the confines of a spacecraft.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, May 08, 2024 at 05:01 PM ET

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SpaceX’s newly unveiled extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuit will allow astronauts to conduct spacewalks during Polaris Dawn. [Courtesy: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

The upcoming Polaris Dawn mission, SpaceX's next crewed flight funded by Jared Isaacman, aims to perform the first commercial spacewalk and reach the highest Earth orbit since the Apollo program.
A key element of Polaris Dawn is the debut of SpaceX's first-generation extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuit, an evolution of their existing IVA suit, designed for both intra- and extravehicular use.
The mission will conduct approximately 40 scientific experiments focused on human health in space, radiation effects, and will test Starlink laser-based communications.
The Polaris Program, through missions like Polaris Dawn, aims to advance human spaceflight capabilities, culminating in a crewed Starship flight, while also supporting philanthropic efforts like funding childhood cancer research for St. Jude.

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A planned SpaceX mission, which is expected to include the first attempt at a commercial spacewalk and fly humans to heights within Earth’s orbit never before reached, received a major boost over the weekend.

SpaceX on Saturday unveiled its first-generation extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuit, which will be donned by astronauts aboard the Polaris Dawn mission, scheduled for no earlier than this summer. Polaris Dawn—a five-day, four-person orbital mission to research human health both in space and on Earth—is the first of three potential human spaceflights under the Polaris Program.