SpaceX's Polaris Dawn Mission: First-Ever Private Spacewalk and Its Challenges

SpaceX: First-ever private spacewalk: 8 key facts about SpaceX's historic Polaris Dawn Mission | - Times of India

The TOI Science Desk stands as an inquisitive team of journalists, ceaselessly delving into the realms of discovery to curate a captivating collection of news, features, and articles from the vast and ever-evolving world of science for the readers of The Times of India. Consider us your scientific companion, delivering a daily dose of wonder and enlightenment. Whether it's the intricacies of genetic engineering, the marvels of space exploration, or the latest in artificial intelligence, the TOI Science Desk ensures you stay connected to the pulse of the scientific world. At the TOI Science Desk, we are not just reporters; we are storytellers of scientific narratives. We are committed to demystifying the intricacies of science, making it accessible and engaging for readers of all backgrounds. Join us as we craft knowledge with precision and passion, bringing you on a journey where the mysteries of the universe unfold with every word.

SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew prepares for historic private spacewalk: How will it work? - Times of India

A team of private astronauts is scheduled on Thursday to perform the inaugural private spacewalk in orbit from a SpaceX capsule, evaluating a new series of spacesuits. The Polaris Dawn mission, SpaceX's most recent and ambitious attempt to expand the limits of commercial spaceflight, launched from Florida on Tuesday. The crew, consisting of a billionaire entrepreneur, a retired military fighter pilot, and two SpaceX employees, has been circling Earth aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon since then. The spacewalk is planned to commence at 2:23 am ET (0623 GMT) with the crew at an altitude of 700 km (435 miles). Two astronauts will exit the Crew Dragon while the other two remain inside. The capsule will be fully depressurized, requiring the entire crew to depend on their streamlined SpaceX-designed spacesuits for oxygen. What is a Spacewalk, how will it work? "Any time an astronaut gets out of a vehicle while in space, it is called a spacewalk. A spacewalk is also called an EVA. EVA stands for extravehicular activity," according to US space agency Nasa's website. Astronauts perform spacewalks for various purposes, such as conducting scientific experiments outside their spacecraft. During these walks, they can attach experimental setups to the exterior of the vehicle and study the effects of the space environment on different materials and objects. Additionally, spacewalks allow astronauts to test new equipment and perform maintenance tasks, including repairing satellites or their own spacecraft. To safely perform a spacewalk, astronauts must wear specialized spacesuits and use safety tethers that resemble ropes. As Nasa explains, "One end is attached to the spacewalker. The other end is connected to the vehicle. The safety tethers keep astronauts from floating away into space." Only government astronauts with several years of training have done spacewalks in the past. There have been roughly 270 on the International Space Station (ISS) since its creation in 2000, and 16 by Chinese astronauts on Beijing's Tiangong space station. Crew for the mission Jared Isaacman, the founder of Shift4, an electronic payment company, is leading the Polaris Dawn mission. Isaacman has also funded the project in collaboration with SpaceX. This marks Isaacman's second space voyage, following his 2021 mission where he spent three days in low-Earth orbit before splashing down off the coast of Florida. The crew accompanying Isaacman includes Scott Poteet, a former US Air Force lieutenant colonel, and two SpaceX employees: Anna Menon, a lead space operations engineer, and Sarah Gillis, an engineer responsible for overseeing astronaut training. What are the objectives of mission? The Polaris mission's private astronauts will serve as crucial subjects for a wide array of scientific studies focusing on the human body's response to the deep space environment. These studies will contribute to the extensive body of knowledge gained from decades of research on government astronauts aboard the ISS. The primary objective of the spacewalk, on the other hand, is to evaluate the performance of the newly developed SpaceX spacesuits, which the company designed in-house. SpaceX intends to utilize these suits for various missions, including those in Earth orbit and potentially beyond. According to Euro News, the EVA spacesuits, specifically designed for this mission, are equipped with cameras and heads-up displays that provide astronauts with real-time information about their suit's status while outside the vehicle. The report also mentioned that the suits incorporate "improved thermal management" to enhance the astronauts' comfort and safety during the spacewalk. The TOI Science Desk stands as an inquisitive team of journalists, ceaselessly delving into the realms of discovery to curate a captivating collection of news, features, and articles from the vast and ever-evolving world of science for the readers of The Times of India. Consider us your scientific companion, delivering a daily dose of wonder and enlightenment. Whether it's the intricacies of genetic engineering, the marvels of space exploration, or the latest in artificial intelligence, the TOI Science Desk ensures you stay connected to the pulse of the scientific world. At the TOI Science Desk, we are not just reporters; we are storytellers of scientific narratives. We are committed to demystifying the intricacies of science, making it accessible and engaging for readers of all backgrounds. Join us as we craft knowledge with precision and passion, bringing you on a journey where the mysteries of the universe unfold with every word.

Watch: SpaceX conducts first private spacewalk; key details - Times of India

A team of four astronauts on Thursday performed first private spacewalk in orbit from a SpaceX capsule as a part of the Polaris Dawn mission donning new series of spacesuits. It marked the debut of the first-ever extravehicular activity (EVA) utilizing commercially developed equipment, innovative procedures, and the brand-new SpaceX EVA suit. "Building a base on the Moon and a city on Mars will require thousands of spacesuits.The development of this suit, and the EVA performed on this mission, will be important steps toward a scalable design for spacesuits on future long-duration missions," Elon Musk's SpaceX said in a post on X. Sharing a video of one of the astronauts, the space company said, "Commander Jared Isaacman has egressed Dragon and is going through the first of three suit mobility tests that will test overall hand body control, vertical movement with Skywalker, and foot restraint." Jared Isaacman, the founder of the electronic payment company Shift4, is spearheading the Polaris Dawn mission and has also financially backed the project in partnership with SpaceX. This marks Isaacman's second space journey, following his 2021 mission where he orbited Earth for three days before a splashdown off the Florida coast. Joining Isaacman on this mission are Scott Poteet, a former US Air Force lieutenant colonel, and two SpaceX team members: Anna Menon, a lead space operations engineer, and Sarah Gillis, an engineer in charge of astronaut training. The mission aims to study how the human body reacts to deep space environments. These investigations will build upon decades of research conducted with government astronauts aboard the ISS. Meanwhile, the main goal of the spacewalk is to assess the performance of SpaceX's newly designed spacesuits. Created in-house by SpaceX, these suits are intended for use in a variety of missions, including those in Earth orbit and potentially beyond. The TOI Science Desk stands as an inquisitive team of journalists, ceaselessly delving into the realms of discovery to curate a captivating collection of news, features, and articles from the vast and ever-evolving world of science for the readers of The Times of India. Consider us your scientific companion, delivering a daily dose of wonder and enlightenment. Whether it's the intricacies of genetic engineering, the marvels of space exploration, or the latest in artificial intelligence, the TOI Science Desk ensures you stay connected to the pulse of the scientific world. At the TOI Science Desk, we are not just reporters; we are storytellers of scientific narratives. We are committed to demystifying the intricacies of science, making it accessible and engaging for readers of all backgrounds. Join us as we craft knowledge with precision and passion, bringing you on a journey where the mysteries of the universe unfold with every word.

Polaris Dawn spacewalk: Rising risks concerns? | - Times of India

SpaceX has made history with its first-ever commercial spacewalk, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman. The four-person crew is conducting the spacewalk 700 km above Earth, higher than the ISS. The mission is testing SpaceX's new extravehicular activity spacesuits, crucial for future deep-space missions. However, scientists deem this risky due to cabin depressurization, exposing the crew to radiation and the void of space.The crew is tethered to the spacecraft, facing dangers such as micrometeoroid impacts. Despite the risks, success will pave the way for future private space exploration and advancements in spacesuit technology. Radiation exposure risks A significant concern is radiation exposure. Unlike low Earth orbit missions, the Polaris Dawn crew will be passing through the lower Van Allen radiation belt, exposing them to higher levels of radiation. Although their EVA suits are designed for protection, the long-term effects of this radiation are still uncertain. The Spacewalk challenge Spacewalks, or Extravehicular Activities (EVAs), have always been risky, both physically and mentally challenging. During NASA's Gemini program in the 1960s, astronauts faced numerous difficulties. A more recent incident occurred during Luca Parmitano's 2013 spacewalk when his helmet started to fill with water due to a malfunction in his suit's cooling system. The situation nearly turned fatal, highlighting the persistent dangers spacewalkers face. Parmitano, who has performed six EVAs, describes the experience as breathtaking yet physically taxing. Despite the incredible views, spacewalkers endure discomfort due to the stiff, pressurised suits, which make movement difficult. Additionally, they face extreme temperature fluctuations, fatigue, and pain during the mission. The new EVA suits developed by SpaceX aim to provide better protection against the vacuum of space and extreme temperatures. However, even with advancements, these suits carry risks. A malfunction during a spacewalk could still be life-threatening. Apart from the physical risks, the psychological toll of floating tethered to a spacecraft, with only the vast emptiness of space around, adds another layer of challenge. Despite these challenges, spacewalks remain a crucial part of space exploration, enabling astronauts to perform repairs, experiments, and other tasks that cannot be done from within the spacecraft. New challenges for Polaris Dawn The Polaris Dawn crew faces a unique set of challenges. Only Isaacman has previous space experience, and none of the crew have performed an EVA before. While the mission is designed to push commercial space travel further, it also introduces the risk of encountering unforeseen issues during the spacewalk. Also read: SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission achieves historic milestone with longest distance from Earth since Apollo 11 The TOI Science Desk stands as an inquisitive team of journalists, ceaselessly delving into the realms of discovery to curate a captivating collection of news, features, and articles from the vast and ever-evolving world of science for the readers of The Times of India. Consider us your scientific companion, delivering a daily dose of wonder and enlightenment. Whether it's the intricacies of genetic engineering, the marvels of space exploration, or the latest in artificial intelligence, the TOI Science Desk ensures you stay connected to the pulse of the scientific world. At the TOI Science Desk, we are not just reporters; we are storytellers of scientific narratives. We are committed to demystifying the intricacies of science, making it accessible and engaging for readers of all backgrounds. Join us as we craft knowledge with precision and passion, bringing you on a journey where the mysteries of the universe unfold with every word.