In a groundbreaking achievement, a SpaceX crew has successfully completed the first commercial spacewalk in history.
Mission Commander Jared Isaacman, who also funded the Polaris Dawn mission, and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis made history by venturing outside the Crew Dragon capsule, with Isaacman being the first to exit. The spacewalk, which was broadcast live, took place at an altitude of 430 miles above the Earth’s surface, the farthest humans have been in 50 years. The extravehicular activity lasted from 6:12 a.m. EDT to 7:58 a.m. EDT.
Isaacman and Gillis spent approximately 10 minutes outside the capsule, tethered to the spacecraft for safety. Although the other two crew members, Kidd Poteet and Anna Menon, remained inside, they were exposed to the harsh conditions of space due to the lack of an airlock on the small craft.
As he floated outside, Isaacman reflected on the breathtaking view, saying, “SpaceX, back at home we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world.”
The Polaris Dawn mission aimed to test cutting-edge technology, including the newly designed spacesuits, in preparation for future space flights. According to SpaceX’s website, the mission plan involved gradually reducing the cabin pressure to vacuum levels before opening the hatch, allowing the crew to exit and perform a series of tests.
CEO Elon Musk extended his congratulations to the team on their remarkable achievement. The Crew Dragon spacecraft, which has been launched 47 times and can accommodate up to seven passengers, played a crucial role in the success of the mission.
