Tech Billionaire Completes First-Ever Commercial Spacewalk: A Milestone for SpaceX

Tech billionaire returns to Earth after first ever commercial spacewalk: Why it matters for Elon Musk's space company - Times of India

Tech billionaire Jared Isaacman and his crew, aboard SpaceX's Dragon capsule, successfully returned to Earth on Sunday (September 15) after a five-day stay in space. A part of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, this is historic because two members of the group conducted the world's first private spacewalk. Why SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission is important for Elon Musk NASA lauded the Polaris Dawn mission - which concluded with a splashdown off Florida's coast and was streamed live by Elon Musk's company SpaceX - as "a giant leap forward" for the commercial space industry. Last week on September 12, Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis conducted the first-ever commercial spacewalk. "Splashdown of Dragon confirmed! Welcome back to Earth," SpaceX said in a post on X Both of them tested SpaceX's new spacesuits during the nearly two-hour-long spacewalk. "Commander @rookisaacman conducting suit mobility tests while Dragon flies between Australia and Antarctica," Elon Musk-owned company posted a clip last week. Musk has also been sharing videos of the mission on his X handle as he is directly involved in the mission. The Polaris Dawn mission is part of a larger initiative by Isaacman, founder of Shift4 Payments, to push private spaceflight boundaries. "Back at home, we all have a lot of work to do, but from here -- it looks like a perfect world," Isaacman said. His second SpaceX mission set a new altitude record and underscored the growing capabilities of private space exploration. The Polaris Dawn mission achieved a peak altitude of 875 miles (1,408 kilometres), which surpasses the International Space Station (ISS) and the Hubble Space Telescope. It is noteworthy that this altitude is the highest reached since NASA's Apollo moon missions. Two more Polaris missions are planned, including the first manned flight of SpaceX's Starship rocket, currently under development. The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk's news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity.

SpaceX's Polaris Dawn crew returns after historic first private spacewalk - Times of India

The Polaris Dawn crew, aboard SpaceX's Dragon capsule, safely returned to Earth on Sunday after completing a groundbreaking five-day mission, which included the world's first commercial spacewalk. The capsule made a successful splashdown off the coast of Florida at 08:30 BST, with the event streamed live by SpaceX. Nasa hailed the mission as "a giant leap forward" for the commercial space industry, marking a key milestone in private space exploration. LIVE! SpaceX Polaris Dawn Splashdown First private spacewalk Tech billionaire Jared Isaacman led the mission alongside two SpaceX engineers and a retired Air Force pilot. The crew travelled higher than anyone has since Nasa's Apollo moon missions, with their Dragon spacecraft reaching a peak altitude of 875 miles (1,408 kilometers), surpassing both the International Space Station and the Hubble Space Telescope. The highlight came on Thursday, when Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis performed the first-ever commercial spacewalk. Emerging from the capsule for just under two hours, they briefly tested SpaceX's new spacesuits. Most of the time, however, was spent depressurising and repressurising the spacecraft due to the lack of an airlock. Isaacman and Gillis became the 264th and 265th individuals to conduct a spacewalk, breaking new ground for non-professional astronauts. Isaacman radioed, "We are mission complete," as the capsule bobbed in the Gulf of Mexico, awaiting recovery. Advancing Space technology for future missions SpaceX sees this brief but historic spacewalk as a stepping stone toward future, longer missions, including its vision of sending humans to Mars. Nasa described the mission as a significant step for the commercial space sector, noting that SpaceX's new spacesuit technology is integral to their plans for deep-space exploration. Isaacman's Polaris Dawn mission is part of a larger initiative to push the boundaries of private spaceflight. The billionaire, founder of Shift4 Payments, has two more planned Polaris missions, with the next featuring the first manned flight of SpaceX's Starship rocket, which is still under development. Scientific experiments and musical performance in Space Throughout their time in orbit, the crew conducted over 40 experiments focused on human health in space and inter-satellite communication using SpaceX's Starlink network. They tested real-time connectivity in space by using Starlink to establish a direct video link to Earth, a demonstration that holds significant promise for future deep-space communications. In a unique addition to the mission, Gillis, a classically trained violinist, performed "Rey's Theme" from Star Wars: The Force Awakens while orbiting 435 miles (700 kilometers) above Earth. Her performance was transmitted to Earth via Starlink, and the video was created in partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which Polaris Dawn raised funds for during the mission. Isaacman's vision for private spaceflight This was Isaacman's second mission with SpaceX, following his 2021 flight, which raised more than $250 million for St. Jude. The Polaris Dawn mission set a new altitude record for human spaceflight since the Apollo era, underscoring the growing capabilities of private space exploration. During the mission, Isaacman reflected on the view from space, saying, "Back at home, we all have a lot of work to do, but from here -- it looks like a perfect world." 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.