Private Astronauts Conduct First Commercial Spacewalk: A Major Milestone for SpaceX
Private astronauts from the Polaris Dawn mission achieved a historic feat in the early hours of Thursday by conducting the first-ever commercial spacewalk. This significant milestone showcases SpaceX’s growing capabilities in the private spaceflight industry and sets the stage for future missions, including crewed missions to Mars.
## The Risky Spacewalk
The spacewalk was considered the riskiest part of the five-day Polaris Dawn mission. While only two of the four crew members actually exited the SpaceX Dragon capsule, all four had to don the new SpaceX-made suits since the capsule lacks an airlock. This meant that the entire spacecraft had to be depressurized, adding to the complexity and novelty of the mission.
Spacewalks, also known as extravehicular activities (EVAs), have historically been performed by government astronauts to conduct repairs, maintenance, and scientific experiments. NASA astronauts typically spend between five and eight hours outside their spacecraft during spacewalks. In contrast, the Polaris Dawn crew spent less than ten minutes outside the Dragon capsule, focusing on testing the mobility and performance of the new SpaceX suits.
## SpaceX’s Innovative Spacesuits
One notable feature of the SpaceX suits is their significantly lighter weight compared to NASA’s bulky white suits. Designed with mobility in mind, the SpaceX suits eliminate the need for a backpack-like Primary Life Support System. Instead, the suits rely on a 12-foot umbilical cord connected to the spacecraft to provide major life support systems.
These lightweight and more mobile suits have implications beyond commercial spacewalks. SpaceX envisions that the suits worn by astronauts on future missions to Mars will be based on the design and technology of the suits used by the Polaris Dawn crew. This achievement brings SpaceX one step closer to its goal of establishing a base on the Moon and a city on Mars.
## Monitoring Progress and Future Plans
While Jared Isaacman, the billionaire entrepreneur and mission leader, and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis conducted the spacewalk, their two crewmates monitored their progress from inside the Dragon capsule. After Gillis closed the hatch, the spacecraft was gradually repressurized, and the entire operation took less than two hours.
With the successful completion of the spacewalk, the Polaris Dawn crew will now focus on conducting various science experiments and testing laser communications between the capsule and Starlink internet satellites. These activities will contribute to the ongoing advancements in space technology and exploration.
## Conclusion
The first commercial spacewalk conducted by private astronauts marks a significant milestone for SpaceX and the private spaceflight industry as a whole. This achievement demonstrates the company’s expertise and innovation in spacesuit design and highlights its ambitions to make human life multi-planetary. As SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, the technology and knowledge gained from missions like Polaris Dawn will pave the way for future breakthroughs in space travel and colonization.
