The Polaris Dawn mission, which embarked on its journey early this morning, September 10, aims to etch its name in the annals of spaceflight history. Designed as a groundbreaking endeavor, Polaris Dawn is set to achieve the first-ever private spacewalk, an ambitious goal that underscores the accelerating commercialization of space exploration.

Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at precisely 5:23 a.m. EDT (0923 GMT), the mission took off from the iconic Launch Complex-39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC). This site has been historically significant, being the launch pad for most of NASA's Apollo moon missions. The Polaris Dawn astronauts will venture farther into space than any human crew since those pioneering missions.

As the powerful rocket ignited its nine Merlin engines, it illuminated the calm waters surrounding KSC. The spectacle was mesmerizing; flames flickered against the dawn sky, creating a golden hue that painted the clouds and reflected over vast distances until the rocket became just another bright speck in the cosmic tapestry above.

This launch marked a shift in the timeline initially slated for August 26. SpaceX deferred the takeoff to carry out additional preflight evaluations. A subsequent attempt was aborted due to a helium leak detected in the Falcon 9's equipment. Following several weather-related postponements, favorable conditions finally allowed for today's successful liftoff.

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Polaris Dawn Historic Launch Photo Gallery

At approximately two minutes and forty seconds into the flight, the Falcon 9 executed a flawless shutdown of its main engines, followed by the booster separating from the second stage. The booster then maneuvered back towards the Atlantic Ocean, aligning perfectly with the SpaceX autonomous droneship, Just Read the Instructions. Roughly 9.5 minutes post-launch, the booster touched down on the waiting barge off Florida's eastern coastline.

Shortly thereafter, the Crew Dragon spacecraft began its independent journey, detaching from the Falcon 9's upper stage around twelve minutes after liftoff. Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur who commands and finances the Polaris Dawn mission, expressed gratitude to supporters during a communication with SpaceX mission control. "We wouldn't be on this journey without all 14,000 of you back home," he stated, emphasizing the collective effort behind this milestone expedition.

The Crew Dragon capsule achieved an initial elliptical orbit with a remarkable maximum altitude of approximately 745 miles (1,200 kilometers) and a minimum altitude of about 118 miles (190 kilometers). Following several orbital adjustments, the crew plans to elevate their apogee to roughly 870 miles (1,400 kilometers)—a height not reached by humans since the last Apollo mission in 1972.

Isaacman brings previous spaceflight experience to this mission. He had previously commanded and funded SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission in September 2021, which raised $250 million in support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. His aim for Polaris Dawn is to build upon the momentum generated by that initial success.

Joining him are two pioneering SpaceX employees, mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, along with retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Scott "Kidd" Poteet, who will serve as the mission pilot. Together, they will spend five days conducting a variety of scientific experiments in this innovative space environment.

On the second day of their mission, the Crew Dragon will adjust its apogee to around 435 miles (700 kilometers). This altitude is crucial for executing one of Polaris Dawn's signature objectives: the world's first commercial spacewalk. Scheduled for the third day of the mission, this extravehicular activity (EVA) will primarily focus on testing SpaceX's new EVA spacesuit, designed distinctly yet reminiscent of their intravehicular activity (IVA) suit used within the spacecraft.

The absence of an airlock in the Crew Dragon means that all four crew members will don their suits during the EVA, while only Isaacman and Gillis will exit the capsule to engage with the vacuum of space. Their EVAs, anticipated to last approximately two hours from the start of depressurization until the hatch securely closes, will allow them to assess the functionality and maneuverability of their equipment.

The fourth day of the mission includes a demonstration involving Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet constellation. The Polaris Dawn crew has hinted at an exciting surprise message intended for transmission back to Earth, leveraging this advanced technology.

Looking ahead, day five will involve preparations for their return home, contingent upon successfully achieving all planned objectives. Throughout the mission, the crewmembers will also execute about 40 scientific experiments.

After six days in space, the Polaris Dawn spacecraft is expected to perform a series of deorbit burns, returning safely to Earth. If the mission progresses smoothly, the crew will splash down in one of several predetermined zones off the coast of Florida, where a recovery vessel will be poised to retrieve both them and their craft.