A SpaceX capsule carrying four private citizens, including billionaire Jared Isaacman, blasted off on a five-day mission known as Polaris Dawn. The mission aims to reach an altitude of 870 miles above Earth, higher than the International Space Station, and will include the first spacewalk by an all-civilian crew. The group will test new spacesuits and technologies that could be used for future missions to the moon and Mars. The launch was initially delayed due to a helium leak and poor weather, but successfully took off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew also includes retired Air Force Lt. Col. Scott Poteet and SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. Isaacman, who funded the first all-civilian SpaceX mission in 2021, is financing this mission in collaboration with SpaceX. The spacewalk is scheduled for the third day of the mission, with Isaacman and Gillis expected to exit the spacecraft in new spacesuits. As the capsule does not have a pressurized airlock, the entire spacecraft will be depressurized during the spacewalk. This mission marks another milestone in private space exploration and the advancement of technology for future missions beyond Earth.
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SpaceX Unveils First All-Civilian Spacewalk in Private Mission Launch
