After nearly five days orbiting Earth, the crew of the Polaris Dawn mission has successfully splashed down off the coast of Dry Tortugas, Florida, marking the end of their historic commercial spaceflight. Commanded by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, the mission has achieved several milestones, including the first spacewalk carried out by private astronauts, setting records for altitude, and conducting multiple scientific experiments.
Returned safely to Earth on September 15, 2024, the crew’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, known as Resilience, made its splashdown at approximately 3:36 AM EDT. Isaacman, along with pilot Scott "Kidd" Poteet and mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, emerged from the capsule with jubilation after being greeted by SpaceX’s recovery team.
From launch to splashdown, the Polaris Dawn mission represented not just the ambitions of one private individual but also the ever-evolving narrative of commercial space exploration. Shortly after reaching orbit, the crew ascended to 875 miles (1,408.1 kilometers) above Earth, achieving the highest altitude for human spaceflight since NASA's Apollo missions ceased back in 1972. This figure was 22 miles higher than the previous record set by the Gemini 11 astronauts, breaking ground and expectations.
One of the standout moments was undoubtedly the mission's spacewalk — the first of its kind for private astronauts. On the third day of the mission, Isaacman and Gillis took turns exiting the capsule’s upper hatch to test SpaceX’s newly developed spacesuit and experience the vacuum of space, marking the 20th and 21st “stand-up EVAS” recorded. The spacewalk lasted around ten minutes each and added yet another layer to the mission’s growing list of firsts.
The Polaris Dawn mission's unique blend of high-altitude aspirations and humanitarian contributions included performing 36 experiments with partnerships spanning NASA, Johns Hopkins University, and the United States Air Force Academy. The crew also focused on testing Starlink satellite communications technology, demonstrating its capabilities by sending the first live video call from space and adding some entertaining flair by playing music — Gillis performed "Rey’s Theme" from Star Wars: The Force Awakens on her violin. The performance was mixed back on Earth with contributions from students participating with El Sistema, highlighting both artistic expression and educational outreach.
Joining Isaacman as not only mission commander but also as the financial backer of the Polaris Program, he was accompanied by fellow crew members who are also SpaceX employees: Anna Menon, lead space operations engineer, who served as the mission's medical officer, and Sarah Gillis, who managed astronaut training. Scott "Kidd" Poteet, another seasoned pilot, completed the crew, contributing decades of experience to the mission.
This mission not only marks unprecedented achievements for private spaceflights, but it also redefines the potential of collaboration between private companies and foundational space agencies like NASA. With many hurdles cleared along the way, from launch delays to securing ideal weather conditions for splashdown, the Polaris Dawn mission harbors inspiring prospects for the future of space exploration.
Throughout the briefings, Isaacman maintained excitement for the advancements made, emphasizing the necessity of safety amid thrilling exploration. "We are mission complete," he conveyed to SpaceX mission control post-splashdown. "Thanks for all the big help pulling this mission together.”
Culmination of this historic endeavor marked the Polaris Dawn mission as the fifth commercial flight for SpaceX and the 14th crewed mission since 2020. While Jared Isaacman acquired successful record-breaking flights through this program, he also garnered financial support for charitable causes, namely benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
This disparity of breaking records and raising funds for important causes creates harmonious credibility around commercial missions. Isaacman's previous mission, the Inspiration4, was known as the first all-civilian mission to orbit Earth, and Polaris Dawn follows suit as the cornerstone for the Polaris Program which intends two more missions to come.
The Polaris Dawn mission also didn't shy away from novelty – the crew allegedly enjoyed the opportunity to snack on specially adapted Doritos, developed by Frito-Lay to prevent pesky crumbs from floating away and causing trouble within the spacecraft. This partnership, stemming from their awareness around space keto diets, also contributed to St. Jude’s efforts, raising over $500,000.
With the mission now behind them, attention turns to the future, how the data collected during this ground-breaking flight will inform more ambitious trips to the moon and Mars. The next mission will also be crewed, employing the same Crew Dragon spacecraft, and aims to continue exploring the depths of human capabilities and technologies well beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Given the showmanship of Polaris Dawn, the collaboration among corporate entities like SpaceX and the human spirit for exploration reignite the long-standing intrigue surrounding commercial space operations. The future certainly gleams brightly for what follows next.
