SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission with civilians has finally taken off

The Polaris Dawn crew left Earth on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at around 11:25 a.m. (Paris time). SpaceX’s unprecedented mission, which transports civilians to space, has finally left from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This is the start of a key space mission in 2024, which is scheduled to last several days, in orbit around the Earth.

This launch was highly anticipated. Polaris Dawn was originally scheduled to take off on Tuesday, August 27. A helium leak detected on the ground prompted SpaceX to exercise extreme caution and postpone the flight. Then, weather hazards prevented the mission from taking off — rockets are very sensitive to the weather. In fact, the launch of the flight on September 10 remained uncertain until the end. The day before, SpaceX mentioned weather at ” 40% in favor of takeoff ” Finally, the departure was able to take place.

Polaris Dawn capsule separates from Falcon 9 rocket

The astronauts are traveling aboard a Crew Dragon capsule, which has successfully separated from the second stage of the Falcon 9 launcher, informed SpaceX around 11:40 a.m. The mission crew also reached the ” zero gravity “, which means the absence of gravity.

The crew consists of four members, all American: Commander Jared Isaacman, Pilot Scott Poteet and Mission Specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon.

Polaris Dawn crew already preparing for spacewalk

And now? The Crew Dragon capsule in which the crew is located must begin a process which will prepare the astronauts for the upcoming spacewalk, scheduled for September 12. The goal of this process is to reduce the health risks to the astronauts related to a decompression problem that could occur during the spacewalk. Since the Crew Dragon does not have an airlock (unlike the ISS), it is necessary to completely depressurize the cabin before proceeding with the spacewalk.

This spacewalk will be the first ever orchestrated with civilians by SpaceX. This space escapade, outside the ship, will be an opportunity to test SpaceX’s next-generation spacesuit, designed to offer great freedom of movement. A luxury for astronauts, who often suffer from various ailments in their very rigid suits. The Polaris Dawn crew trained extensively to prepare for this moment, which promises to be historic.