Jared Isaacman Leads Daring Commercial Spacewalk on SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn Mission

Jared Isaacman, the billionaire adventurer and philanthropist who made headlines by chartering the first commercial flight to orbit aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in 2021, is set to embark on an even more ambitious mission. On Tuesday, Isaacman and three crewmates will launch into space for the Polaris Dawn mission, featuring the first-ever commercial spacewalks and a record-breaking journey to 870 miles above Earth—an altitude not reached since the Apollo moon missions over half a century ago.

Isaacman, along with SpaceX crew trainer Sarah Gillis, will don innovative SpaceX-designed spacesuits and exit the spacecraft for about 15 minutes each. Connected by 12-foot-long umbilicals and safety tethers, the two will test the new suits’ capabilities just outside the ship’s forward hatch. Meanwhile, their crewmates—former F-16 pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet and SpaceX Crew Dragon mission director Anna Menon—will remain inside, monitoring the mission from the cabin.

This high-stakes demonstration is aimed at paving the way for a new generation of cost-effective and flexible spacesuits, crucial for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. “My desire in human spaceflight is to move the needle,” Isaacman told CBS News. He emphasized that the risks involved are justified by the potential to advance technology and open up space exploration for more people.

In addition to the spacewalks, the Crew Dragon will reach a record altitude for an Earth-orbit mission at 870 miles—over 600 miles higher than the International Space Station. The mission will also test a high-tech laser communications link to Earth using SpaceX’s Starlink satellites and conduct 36 bio-medical experiments in collaboration with 31 institutions.

These experiments include testing “smart” contact lenses to monitor internal eye pressure in zero gravity, exploring space motion sickness, and investigating the potential of space radiation for X-ray imaging. This research is critical for understanding the long-term effects of space travel on the human body, especially for future deep-space missions.

Isaacman’s previous SpaceX flight, Inspiration4, raised over $250 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Polaris Dawn mission continues this philanthropic tradition, with companies like Frito-Lay contributing donations, including $500,000 from a special Doritos campaign.

The Polaris Dawn mission marks the first of three planned by Isaacman in partnership with SpaceX founder Elon Musk. After this mission, the second will involve another Crew Dragon flight, and the third will be the inaugural piloted flight of SpaceX’s massive Super Heavy-Starship rocket, currently under development.

Although the costs of these missions remain undisclosed, Isaacman’s commitment to advancing space exploration and supporting St. Jude reflects his broader vision. “Life is short, and you only have so much time to make as much of an impact as you possibly can,” he said.

The Polaris Dawn mission is set to launch from Kennedy Space Center at 3:38 a.m. EDT on Tuesday. Following a 12-minute ascent to space, the Crew Dragon will be released into an initial orbit before making its record-setting climb to 870 miles. Over the course of the five-day mission, the crew will conduct research, rehearse spacewalk procedures, and eventually perform the first commercial spacewalks.

SpaceX plans to live stream the spacewalk, offering viewers a front-row seat to this historic event. As Isaacman and Gillis test their suits, their crewmates will ensure the mission proceeds smoothly, monitoring their safety and the spacecraft’s systems.

As Isaacman puts it, “It’s time to go out, it’s time to explore, it’s time to do these big things and move forward.” The Polaris Dawn mission represents a significant step in humanity’s ongoing journey to explore the final frontier.

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