They will do it for the first time in space. But not without problems

The latest mission with SpaceX did not go off without a hitch. The flight was originally scheduled to depart today, but was delayed due to a helium leak. However, if it does launch, it will certainly make a mark in the history of spaceflight, where it could be written as a new chapter in such expeditions. For the first time, private citizens, not members of space missions, will take a space walk.

The first mission of its kind

Paradoxically, the Polaris Dawn mission will not reach the Earth’s poles, as its name would suggest. But it still has ambitious plans. First, the SpaceX Dragon capsule, which will be carried into space by Falcon 9, is to reach a maximum altitude of 1,400 kilometers – higher than any manned mission, not counting the Apollo program.

In addition to the first-ever commercial spacewalk, the team will also test Elon Musk’s company’s newly developed EVA suits, which are equipped with helmet-mounted cameras and head-up displays. Each crew member will spend 15 to 20 minutes in space. The flight will also test laser satellite communications and 40 other experiments to help understand the impact of long-duration spaceflight on human health, including contact lenses with built-in microelectronics that will continuously monitor changes in eye pressure and shape.

The mission is expected to last six days, ending with a landing in waters off the coast of Florida. In addition to Jared Isaacman, the crew includes mission pilot Scott Poteet, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel; mission specialist Sarah Gillis, SpaceX’s chief space operations engineer; and mission specialist and medical officer Anna Menon, also SpaceX’s chief space operations engineer. The entire team has undergone more than two years of training, which, in addition to hours spent in simulators, includes parachute training, centrifuge training, and diving.