On Thursday, a team of four aboard a SpaceX capsule completed the world’s first commercial spacewalk, a groundbreaking event that quickly became a social media sensation.
Who Participated in SpaceX’s Spacewalk?
While all four crew members experienced the vacuum of space, only billionaire tech CEO Jared Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis exited the capsule. Scott “Kidd” Poteet and Anna Menon remained inside the spacecraft.
With the spacewalk concluded, the Polaris Dawn crew will spend a few more days in orbit to complete the mission’s remaining objectives and conduct various experiments. The Crew Dragon capsule is expected to return to Earth this weekend.
Breaking Records in Space
This marks the first commercial spacewalk by a team composed entirely of non-governmental astronauts. Additionally, Polaris Dawn achieved the highest Earth orbit of any private mission.
In a historic first, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon became the first women to travel this far from Earth, a distance not reached since NASA’s Apollo missions ended in 1972.
What is Polaris Dawn?
First announced in 2022, Polaris Dawn is the initial mission in a series of three under the larger Polaris program, spearheaded and funded by Jared Isaacman in partnership with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The program’s long-term goal is to develop the technology needed for future deep-space exploration, including missions to Mars.
The mission tested new spacesuits and life support systems that are crucial for long-duration space travel. While details on the second Polaris mission remain sparse, the third mission is anticipated to be groundbreaking, with Isaacman aiming to launch aboard a SpaceX Starship, setting the stage for future missions to the Moon and beyond.
Who Is Jared Isaacman?
Jared Isaacman, born in Union, New Jersey, is a self-made billionaire and entrepreneur. He founded Shift4 Payments in the basement of his parents’ home, a company that now processes payments for a third of U.S. restaurants and hotels, including major chains like Hilton, Four Seasons, KFC, and Arby’s.
In 2011, he also established Draken International, a defense company that trains Air Force pilots and owns the largest fleet of privately-owned military aircraft in the world. Then, in 2019, he sold a majority stake in Draken to Blackstone for billions of dollars.
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Described by Forbes as a “thrill-seeker,” Isaacman enjoys flying military jets faster than the speed of sound and climbing mountains to unwind after 80-hour workweeks. His brother, Michael, shared that Jared believes in living life to the fullest, doing extraordinary things while we’re alive.
Isaacman is currently on the mission as part of the Polaris Dawn crew and is expected to return to Earth on Saturday.
