The cosmic adventures of SpaceX's history-making Polaris Dawn mission culminated with the crew's return to Earth, marking another significant milestone for private spaceflight. On September 15, 2024, at 3:37 AM ET, the Crew Dragon capsule carrying four astronauts splashed down off the coast of Dry Tortugas, Florida, after spending five days orbiting the Earth.
The mission, which was led by tech billionaire Jared Isaacman, included retired US Air Force pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet, and SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. This marked the conclusion of Polaris Dawn, the first of three planned missions under the Polaris Program, funded by Isaacman with the intent of exploring new technologies and supporting humanity's goal of interplanetary travel.
Polaris Dawn not only achieved its objective of testing SpaceX's new spacesuits but also successfully conducted the first commercial spacewalk by non-government astronauts. The crew reached heights of 875 miles (1,408 kilometers) above Earth, signifying the farthest point humans have traveled since the Apollo missions from 1961 to 1972.
The splashdown of Crew Dragon was confirmed by SpaceX at 3:37 AM local time, following the capsule’s de-orbit burn, which exposed it to extreme temperatures of up to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit as it re-entered the atmosphere. A recovery team was quickly dispatched to retrieve the capsule and its crew from the water.
Isaacman expressed the team's relief and joy upon returning, noting, "We are mission complete," as their capsule bobbed quietly on the ocean. The successful deployment of parachutes during the descent allowed for a controlled landing, and after about half an hour, the astronauts were safely brought aboard the recovery vessel.
During their brief time aloft, the Polaris Dawn crew conducted 36 scientific experiments aimed at studying the human body’s changes in space. The mission also incorporated some fun moments, as Gillis, who is also a trained violinist, played the iconic "Rey’s Theme" from Star Wars during their time aboard, sharing the performance via SpaceX's Starlink network.
Meanwhile, Anna Menon took the opportunity to read her children’s book Kisses from Space to her kids on Earth from the Orion capsule. She expressed her love for them as she shared the experience, saying, "This book is to remind you I love you even when we're apart.” Moments like these highlighted the personal connections the crew maintained throughout their extraordinary endeavor.
The mission had recently faced weather delays, forcing SpaceX to select Dry Tortugas as their landing site to improve the odds of favorable conditions for their return. This endeavor marks not just the completion of the mission but sets the stage for future flights planned under the Polaris program, including the much-anticipated crewed flight of SpaceX's Starship, which aims to be the first step toward missions to the Moon and Mars.
During the mission, Polaris Dawn astronauts made headlines globally with their groundbreaking spacewalk—the first where non-professional astronauts conducted extravehicular activity (EVA). Isaacman and Gillis ventured out of the Dragon capsule for around ten minutes each, marking their names alongside history as they tested the suit functionality amid the backdrop of the cosmos.
Throughout this record-breaking flight, the entirety of human spaceflight witnessed another leap forward as private missions contribute substantially to our reach beyond Earth. The Polaris Dawn mission, with its array of scientific goals and commercial spacewalk, demonstrates the continuous evolution of space exploration, which is becoming increasingly accessible to civilians.
While the first Polaris mission has wrapped up, excitement stirs for what's next. The second mission will build on Polaris Dawn's accomplishments and prepare for future exploration with the potential for human missions beyond Earth's orbit. SpaceX's efforts, aligned with Isaacman's vision, are pointing not just to short-term exploration but also paving the way for human adventures on the Moon and Mars.
Overall, the Polaris Dawn mission does not merely symbolize technological achievement; it serves as inspiration for future generations eager to reach the stars.
