Two astronauts, a billionaire and an engineer, successfully completed the world’s first private spacewalk on Thursday, outside a SpaceX capsule. This groundbreaking mission, part of the Polaris Dawn project, involved Jared Isaacman, the founder of Shift4, and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis. The astronauts spent around 10 minutes each outside the Crew Dragon capsule, secured by tethers, marking a historic achievement for commercial spaceflight.
The spacewalk, streamed live on SpaceX’s website, took place 450 miles above Earth. Isaacman exited the capsule first, followed by Gillis, while their crewmates, Scott Poteet and Anna Menon, observed from inside. The entire process lasted an hour and 46 minutes. The astronauts have been orbiting Earth since Tuesday’s launch from Florida.
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Isaacman, who funded this mission as well as his 2021 Inspiration4 flight, expressed awe during the walk. “From here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world,” he said while silhouetted against the glittering planet below.
The mission aimed to test advanced spacesuits and procedures designed by SpaceX, crucial for future private missions, including potential trips to Mars. The astronauts relied on these new suits for oxygen as they performed various movements to provide feedback to ground control for future improvements.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson hailed the success as a significant milestone for the commercial space industry. SpaceX, the only private company capable of routinely sending humans to orbit, continues to push the boundaries of space exploration.
This achievement comes amid a surge of space activity, with a record 19 astronauts currently in orbit. The Polaris Dawn mission underscores the growing role of private companies in space travel, challenging traditional government-led programs.
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