On September 15, 2024, the Polaris Dawn mission ended with its crew's splashdown, marking the culmination of five days filled with historic achievements. Led by mission commander Jared Isaacman, this mission went beyond just exploration; it set nine new records, including the first private spacewalk.
After splashing down at roughly 3:37 a.m. EDT, Isaacman radioed to SpaceX's mission control, confirming the mission's success: "We are mission complete. Thanks for all the big help pulling this mission together." This flight represented the first of three planned Polaris Program missions, each funded by Isaacman, who has also previously commanded the Inspiration4 mission.
The Polaris Dawn crew included pilot Scott Poteet and mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, both SpaceX employees. By launching their personnel, SpaceX made history as well, marking the first time their employees have flown on their own spacecraft.
One of their primary achievements was the new altitude record of 875 miles above Earth, surpassing the previous record set by NASA’s Gemini 11 by 22 miles. This marked the highest altitude achieved by humans since the last Apollo lunar mission over 50 years ago. The crew’s elevation allowed them to study the effects of increased radiation exposure on both the Dragon spacecraft's systems and their own health, which is invaluable for future missions aiming for lunar or Martian exploration.
The crew’s second day in space also coincided with another remarkable achievement: the record for the most humans simultaneously orbiting Earth, which included their four-member team and other astronauts aboard the International Space Station and the newly launched Russian Soyuz as well as taikonauts on China's Tiangong Space Station. This brought the total to 19 people floating around the globe!
On the mission's third day, the astronauts participated in the first commercial spacewalk. Depressurizing the Dragon spacecraft for preparation, Isaacman and Gillis became the first individuals to step outside on the mission, demonstrating SpaceX’s new extravehicular activity (EVA) suit. They completed two brief excursions lasting about 10 minutes each.
On their final full day orbiting, the Polaris Dawn crew celebrated another achievement: the first violin performance sent live down to Earth. Gillis played "Rey’s Theme" from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, creating music mixed with accompanying orchestral performances for the piece named "Harmony of Resilience.”
Throughout this mission, the crew conducted 36 experiments with contributions from 31 various partners including NASA and Johns Hopkins University, showcasing the diverse research opportunities available to them. Uniquely, they also made headlines with their Doritos snack, receiving the first batch of specially formulated tortilla chips made safe for space travel by eliminating the recognizable flavor dust known for causing crumbs — a potential hazard to the spacecraft’s systems.
Raising funds for charity was also integral to the mission, as they auctioned off collectibles and performed various projects for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Isaacman sold illustrated copies of Menon’s children’s book "Kisses from Space," and all the mission’s proceeds aimed to benefit this worthy cause.
The expedition witnessed many “firsts” and will be remembered for initiating advancements toward commercial space travel. Additional records included the southernmost splashdown of any crewed spacecraft off the coast of Dry Tortugas, Florida.
Poteet, Gillis, and Menon now count as the 618th, 619th, and 620th individuals to reach Earth orbit, defined by the Association of Space Explorers. Meanwhile, Isaacman is recorded as the 568th person to orbit and the 588th to have traveled to space. This historic mission has expanded both the bounds of private spaceflight and the potential for human endeavors beyond Earth, inviting questions about who might travel next - perhaps even everyday folks ready for their chance to venture beyond the stars.
