American tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, known for his philanthropic efforts, has embarked on a historic journey to perform the first private spacewalk as part of a five-day mission. Isaacman, who founded the credit card processing company Shift4, is sharing the cost of the flight with a crew of five, including two SpaceX engineers and a former US Air Force pilot. The spacecraft named Resilience, launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida, will venture farther than any mission since NASA’s Apollo program in the 1970s, reaching an orbit altitude of 870 miles.
The mission, named Polaris Dawn, is the first of three trips purchased by Isaacman from SpaceX founder Elon Musk. This venture follows Isaacman’s previous private spaceflight in 2021, which raised funds for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The crew will perform up to 40 experiments, including inter-satellite laser communication with Space X’s Starlink satellite constellation.
The highlight of the mission is the private spacewalk scheduled for Thursday. Isaacman and SpaceX’s Sarah Gillis will test new astronaut suits in a two-hour spacewalk, aiming to make spacesuits more accessible to various body shapes and sizes and reduce costs for future human spaceflight. While some criticize billionaires for buying their way into space history, Isaacman’s role as the mission commander and his previous spaceflight experience highlight his commitment to advancing space exploration.
The mission marks a significant milestone in private space exploration, pushing boundaries and paving the way for future space travel. Isaacman’s dedication to inspiring the next generation of space explorers underscores the importance of private initiatives in advancing human spaceflight. As the crew prepares to make history with the first private spacewalk, Isaacman’s vision for space exploration continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.
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